The app for independent voices
How To Be an Effective Legislative Advocate. By Dawn Richardson, National Vaccine Information Center (02/12/25, video 50:39, includes transcript)
To represent their community well, elected officials must hear from the people (even if you believe they won’t listen; you may be surprised).
No matter where you live and regardless of your age or experience, you can influence public policy.
Host Dawn Richardson shares simple steps and tools for becoming a successful advocate. While she focuses on human rights, her advice applies no matter what you care about most.
Richardson explains how bills are passed, how to find your legislators, ways to communicate with them — in-person (best), phone, email, fax, how to prepare your message, how to testify effectively, and more. She also urges respectful but firm communication, which is always more effective than ranting.
Resource
NVIC Advocacy Portal: nvicadvocacy.org/members