Becoming an advocate was not a path I had envisioned for myself, initially. During my first job as a legislative assistant at the Indiana Senate, I began to understand the value and importance of the lobbying and advocacy roles. I worked closely with these people and saw, first-hand, how they educated legislators and provided them with information that informed them during the decision-making process. It was during this time that I gained a lot of respect for our participatory democracy and citizen engagement. I quickly learned that a productive government needs good advocates to make informed decisions. I decided I wanted to take part in working with governments to influence change and impact outcomes.
It is easy to recognize when you need help resolving a situation. What isn’t always as clear is who can help. An advocate goes to bat for their clients when they don’t know how to do it themselves. Advocates understand a situation on a higher level and understand how to make changes. We are lucky enough to live in a representative democracy that allows each of us to have the right to advocate, share our concerns and make sure our voice is heard.
The legislative process, at any level of government, is long and complex. There are many players and stakeholders, but effective advocates understand how to maneuver and build coalitions in order to effect positive change. Effective advocates are the passionate and strong voice for their clients and understand how to communicate and draw attention to issues. They have access to information and insight that is necessary in understanding how to get things done. The process of advocacy centers around representation, mobilization and empowerment for each person because we all deserve a seat at the table.
I became an advocate because I wanted to help people achieve their mission. Every person and every industry deserve a fighting chance to impact and improve their situation. As someone who spent over six years studying public administration and policy analysis, I know the importance of citizen engagement. Serving as the Director of Government Relations at RJL Solutions has provided me with the ability to do meaningful work for businesses and organizations. From research to relationships, I can provide our clients with a plan to achieve their mission.
I am here to ensure that each client has the ability to share their story and, if they choose, change their story. The beauty of our democratic government allows for us to be the change agents we want to see in this world.
