Advocacy Blog

MdPHA Statement on the Death of George Floyd

Posted on Jun 4, 2020

Public Health Night in Annapolis 2020

Posted on Feb 21, 2020

MD Nonprofits Legislative Preview–Jan 6, 2020

Posted on Dec 26, 2019

Join MdPHA and dozens of other educators and advocates from Maryland to discuss the most pressing legislative issues this session. Topics covered include healthcare, climate, transportation, education, and more. Details and registration can be found here.

Day 8 & 9: Plan a visit with a legislator

Posted on Jan 23, 2017

This is also more difficult one, but something every citizen should do! You can visit them to discuss a specific topic that you have expertise in or are passionate about. Or you can target a specific piece of legislation that they are a sponsor or co-sponsor of (or that they should be). The key about these visits is that you don’t need to be an expert in anything to go. Sharing your personal story on why this issue is important and why the legislator should support it or not is very meaningful. Or you can join a advocacy or lobby day with another organization if you’re not ready to break out on your own. The American Heart Association lobby day in Annapolis is February 2 (sign up here).

Suggested steps:

1. Decide on your issue and who your target legislator is. You should be a constituent of theirs. Do they work on a particular issue that you’re interested in? Are they on a committee that is reviewing legislation that is important to you and you want them to vote a certain way?
2. Call their office and set up an appointment with the scheduler. It is likely that you will meet with a staffer if you’re aiming for a Congressperson or Senator. State and local legislators may meet with you in person unless they are in session. Staffers are great as they are doing a ton of the work and research. Make sure you ask to meet with the staffer who works on your issue (environment, health, transportation, etc).
3. Prepare and practice your main points and remarks. Bring notes with you or bring materials in a folder that you think the legislator and their staff will find useful about the issue. Bring 2-3 copies. Make sure your information is accurate, but make it meaningful!
4. If you’re asked a question, answer the best you can. It’s totally ok to say, “I don’t know, but I will find out and get back to you.”
5. Repeat!

Day 7: Donate some dollars

Posted on Jan 17, 2017

Sometimes we need to put our money where our mouth is. Maybe this is through writing a check to a local charity or maybe even including a favorite charity in your will/estate planning. Sometimes there are things that need to get done that need a bigger platform and it may be worth it to donate a few extra $$ to help a cause that is important to you. You alone probably can’t put up a bulletin board in a strategic location or run an entire strategic messaging campaign, but your $25 donation can help that become a reality for another organization that you believe in. Organizations can’t use federal dollars or grant funding (usually) for lobbying activities, so they rely on donations from their supporters.

Donating money is not for everyone and is certainly not mandatory to be a great advocate. Donating your time though on the ground work (going to rallys, door knocking), writing emails, making phone calls….these are all time consuming activities that won’t get done if we don’t do them ourselves.