Perhaps the single most important thing you
can do to become an effective advocate is to learn about the issues and
the positions of your elected representatives.
It's important for a citizen lobbyist to redefine what it means to be an "expert" -- learn the status of the issue and draw on your own stories and experiences.
Once your have learned
about the issues, found your representatives, gotten organized,
developed a message, it's time to take that message to your
representative.
Connecting with your
legislator in a face to face meeting is a great way to develop a
relationship with them and work to influence the stands they take on
your issues.
Long-term effective advocacy and
the lobbying that supports it requires positive, trusting, strategic
relationships with elected and appointed officials, their staff, the
media and your own base.
Wellstone Action sat down (well, virtually) with our fantastic partners over at Energy Action Coalition
- the master organizers behind the massive Powershift Conference (thousands of young people mobilizing to end climate change) and,
according to the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, the most successful Capitol Hill
lobby day of all time.