Contact Elected Officials
Want to know something about the people elected to represent you? We thought you might. Find and contact federal, state and local officials—right from your chair! And it does matter: only 5 to 10 percent of voters ever contact legislators, which is why even small groups of advocates can make a difference.
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Tools for Reaching Officials
Now that you know how to reach your elected officials (see the tool on the right), what's the most effective way to make sure your message is heard, and follow up? These resources below are designed to help you do just that.
A quick box of new tools and research to help you make your case powerfully and effectively.
Think factory farms and genetically modified seed monopolies are driving out family farmers and undermining the availability of nutritious foods? FarmAid says it's time to tell Attorney General Holder and Secretary Vilsack how you feel.
Do you ever come across unfamiliar terms and acronyms in your advocacy work? Whether you are a lifelong advocate or a new big voice for little kids you may encounter new policy jargon every so often.
Minnesota’s Cross-Cultural Leadership Action Program brings cultural communities together to develop the capacity to promote school readiness through advocacy and civic engagement. Ready 4K, a nonprofit early childhood advocacy group, started the Hmong Leadership Development and Mentoring Program in 2005.
Please contact your representatives and urge them to act now to avoid cuts in vital services to children, youth and families by extending the FMAP and state fiscal stabilization assistance in ARRA.
Democracy is a conversation. That's the spirit behind this site, which offers forums, blogs, polls, petitions, action alerts and more to help you get informed and involved in the democratic process, no matter where you stand on the issues.
Elected officials are often challenged by a lack of permanent staff, limited financial resources for technology and a sometimes unending barrage of email from constituents and advocates. That's where Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) comes in.
Elected officials do pay attention to email from constituents. To prove it, the Congressional Management Foundation surveyed Members of Congress and their staff. Here's what they found, along with tips you can put to use right away.
Letters and emails are an extremely effective way of communicating with your elected officials. Many legislators believe that a letter represents not only the position of the writer but also many other constituents who did not take the time to write. These tips will help increase the effectiveness of your letter.
The National Collaboration for Youth (NCY), a 40 year old coalition of youth-serving nonprofits, has proposed a national policy agenda, "Toward a Brighter Future: An Essential Agenda for America's Young People."
The Latest Action Alerts
On Thursday, August 19, 2010, California’s bill--Senate Bill 399--will be voted on in the state Assembly. SB 399 allows for a review of life without parole sentences given to youth, so that young people may have an opportunity for resentencing.
The Child Care & Development Block Grant is an unusual program in that its federal funding comes from two sources: discretionary appropriations and mandatory funding. In addition to the good news on the discretionary appropriations side, today Senators Kerry (MA) and Lincoln (AR) and Representative Crowley (NY) introduced companion bills, called the Children First Act of 2010 (no bill
The Promoting SUCCESS Act (HR 5963) would direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to fund pilot projects to explore how the camp experience promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyles among children and youth, reduces summer learning loss, and promotes academic achievement.
Healthy Teen Network and the National Women's Law Center are pleased to announce that U.S. Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) and 16 other Members of Congress introduced on July 28, 2010 the Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act (H.R.
It’s time for everyone concerned about child hunger to push for passage of a fully funded Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill.
To preserve and create jobs and help the most vulnerable families, the Senate still needs to extend enhanced Medicaid funding for states and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund.