Homeless in High School, Charles Adkins ’20 Helps Through Legislation
Evergreen State College
by By Cyrus Inglis
Charles Adkins ‘20 is not your average college student. At 22, he has been deeply involved in politics since 2014, when he worked as an intern for the city of Mukilteo. Since then he has worked on political campaigns, racked up three years of lobbying experience, and helped pass several significant bills through the state legislature. Now he is the vice president of federal affairs for the Washington Student Association. But getting where he is today has not been easy.
A member of the Yurok Tribe, Adkins grew up watching his community’s land leased to lumber companies by the federal government—a consequence of the Dawes Act of 1887. This, along with stories he heard from his grandfather, inspired him to get involved in politics.
