Communicating with your Policymakers

Shireen Malekafzali, Senior AssociateRebecca Flournoy, Associate Director

PolicyLink

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PolicyLink

A national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by

Lifting Up What Works

Center for Health & PlaceWorks to create neighborhood conditions that

encourage health.

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

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Finding Your Representatives

• Call and ask: 202.224.3121

• Use the web:– http://www.senate.gov/ – http://www.house.gov/

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Finding your representatives

House Senate

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Type in your zip code or state

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

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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)

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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

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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

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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.

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Shireen Malekafzalishireen@policylink.org

Rebecca FlournoyRebecca@policylink.org

www.PolicyLink.org