Plan Ahead and Schedule a Meeting with Your Legislator
The LEAD Program is hard at work building a great conference for our peers in Sacramento from June 12-13, 2023. In preparation of more conference attendees than ever before, we’ve pivoted our legislative advocacy to take place at the conference site.
This year, we will have an interactive exhibition full of activities to build and strengthen your advocacy toolkit. A video testimony booth will be available on-site for attendees to practice and record public comment. Videos will be submitted to legislators and shared across CAMHPRO’s various communication platforms.
Additionally, our team canvassed the legislature and invited them to join us as conference attendees to engage with and learn alongside fellow peers. We look forward to having community organizers, fellow advocacy partners, and legislative join us in sharing their knowledge and strategies in effecting change.
Prefer to attend an in-person legislative meeting? Plan ahead and schedule your own meeting with your legislator:
Step 1: Identify your legislators.
As residents of California, we have one Assembly Member and one Senator. Identify who your elected officials by looking up your address here: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
Step 2: Retrieve contact information.
After submitting your address, two names will appear: an Assembly Member and a Senator. Their names will be linked in blue. Click on their names to visit their homepages and find the phone numbers for the Capitol Office in Sacramento. If you prefer to meet within your district, collect the phone numbers for the District Office.
Step 3: Call to schedule a meeting.
When a staff member answers, let them know you are constituent of legislator and would like to schedule an in-person legislative visit. They may refer you to email the office staff responsible for scheduling.
Step 4: Wait patiently.
If you don’t hear back after a week, send a follow-up email. The legislative staff try their best to accommodate constituents when they can.
Step 5: Be flexible.
Work with the staff member to schedule time that works for both of you.
Step 6: Mark your calendar.
Prepare for your legislative visit! If scheduling your legislative visit during the days of the conference, provide yourself enough time to get to the Capitol Annex Swing Space (1021 O Street, Sacramento). The building is 0.8 miles from the conference location (Holiday Inn Downtown Sacramento – 300 J Street, Sacramento). Carve out about an hour before your scheduled visit to travel, get through security, and find the office.
First time at the Capitol Annex Swing Space? Watch this video before you head over to learn how to navigate the space: https://youtu.be/k278DBjmc7E. Be sure to visit the Advocacy Pod at the conference to participate in the many activities to get yourself prepared to meet with your legislator including an opportunity to practice your elevator speech and create a QR networking contact card.
See you in June!
By: Avery Hulog-Vicente, LEAD Advocacy Coordinator
