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PolicyLink

Communicating with your Policymakers Shireen Malekafzali, Senior Associate Rebecca Flournoy, Associate Director PolicyLink. PolicyLink. A national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works Center for Health & Place

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PolicyLink

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  1. Communicating with your PolicymakersShireen Malekafzali, Senior AssociateRebecca Flournoy, Associate DirectorPolicyLink

  2. PolicyLink A national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works Center for Health & Place Works to create neighborhood conditions that encourage health.

  3. What we’ll cover today • How to set up a visit with you representative • How to prepare for the meeting • How to write a letter to your legislator GOAL - Comfort accessing your representatives and sharing your experiences and opinions

  4. Finding Your Representatives • Call and ask: 202.224.3121 • Use the web: • http://www.senate.gov/ • http://www.house.gov/

  5. Finding your representatives Type in your zip code or state House Senate

  6. Contacting your representative • Call your representative directly • A legislative aid will likely pick up. • State that you are a constituent. • State why you are calling. • To set up a meeting. • To voice your opinion on a topic. • To share your thoughts. • Send an email correspondence • Make sure to follow-up • Consider the timing of your visit

  7. Preparing to talk to policymakers • Establish your agenda and goals • Identify who will participate in the meeting • Know the policymaker’s background • Hone your messages –simple and short • Be strategic about who attends and who speaks • Prepare a 1-page summary to leave • Practice (role play)

  8. What to expect • Be prepared to wait • Be prepared to meet with staffers • Stay focused and be brief • Be accurate and generous with praise • Be careful not to close doors • Leave something behind • Follow up: express thanks and an interest in continuing the conversation

  9. Writing letters to elected officials • Be clear and concise • Keep letters to one or two pages • Address only one issue per letter • Identify yourself and your constituency • Who you are and who you represent • Give an example of a personal story • Sign it personally

  10. Remember: • You don’t have to be a policy expert. • You are a constituent concerned about how policy impacts you and your community. • Your representative should be made aware of your position to be able to appropriately represent you. • Policymakers want to hear from their constituents. • They want to make connections. • They want to be reelected.

  11. Shireen Malekafzali shireen@policylink.org Rebecca Flournoy Rebecca@policylink.org www.PolicyLink.org

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