Advocacy Angle: Bring Heart to Advocacy

By Kristin Fitzgerald

The group of advocates sat in a small room telling their stories. They were a varied group of individuals. Some had been touched by the issue themselves; others were telling the story of someone else. Still more were there because of their professional role and their dedication to the cause.

The meeting was one of thousands of meetings with advocates who take their stories and their causes to Washington, D.C., to champion change, to make a difference, and to take an active role in ensuring their government responds to the issues that are the most important.

The legislative staffer who listened was not young. It was not her first meeting. But this meeting was different. On this day, the staffer’s heart heard their stories. They moved her to action. She would never forget the people in that room, and because of their advocacy, millions of dollars were dedicated to their cause.

I know this story because I was in this room. I was a witness to one meeting that changed the trajectory of the future.

This is the power of advocacy.

With federal funding in jeopardy, students in crisis, and a daily diet of news overload, it’s easy to be tired and overwhelmed. It’s easy to feel like raising our voices won’t make a difference, that our stories will not be heard.

One meeting.

A series of stories that connected in a different way, that turned a staff member from a listener to an advocate, to a champion who would carry the cause.

The needs of our students are indeed great. But our passion and our power to advocate on their behalf are far greater.

This September 21-23, school board members from across the nation will come to Washington for the Consortium of State School Boards Associations’ (COSSBA) Federal Advocacy Conference.

IASB participants at the conference have a packed agenda. You will network with other school board members and brush up on federal policy. You will work with an executive speaking coach. You will spend time preparing and telling your stories. IASB will help you practice to make sure that, in those critical minutes you have with U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives and their staff, you are ready.

And then we will fan out across Capitol Hill, sharing the messages we were born to bring, advocating with all the passion and skill we can, knowing the importance of our message.

Come to Washington, D.C. with your fellow school board members from across Illinois to bring the stories of your students to life. Help the congressional members and staff understand your students’ needs in their hearts.

Early bird registration for the COSSBA Federal Advocacy Conference ends on July 20. Don’t miss your chance!

Kristin Fitzgerald is IASB Senior Director of Governmental Relations, with a focus on federal advocacy.