Yesterday as I spoke to the Technological Entrepreneurship class about sustainability I was attempting to explain what steps that we as citizens can take to actually make a difference. When the subject of engaging local politicians and law makers came up I was asked How do I get my local politician to actually listen to me? I began to explain that politicians are busy people, they have requests and demands from people every day. In order for your voice to be heard you must be prepared to speak, know what youre going to say and how youre going to say it before you even begin to engage with them. You must come up with a short, succint pitch with distinct talking points that youd like to get across. Because they get requests and demands daily you must also convince the politician/lawmaker why it would benefit them to take up your cause or do what youre asking them to do. I tried to remember my training up on the side of a mountain in California last year at the Outdoor Afro leadership training and specifically the lessons learned from Danielle Moodie-Mills. Id like to thank the ever awesome Ms. Rue Mapp, Outdoor Afro (the organization and all the wonerful leaders and members) and especiallyMs. Danielle Moodie-Mills for enriching my life and teaching me about how to engage communities and law/policy makers that I can utilize here in MS.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:51:17 +0000