Elected officials can be strongly affected by the opinions of constituents who are committed enough to a specific concern to arrange a visit, whether in their office or at a community forum. As part of this campaign, we want to involve policymakers in the campaign and show how students are addressing issues and impacting communities. Most importantly, we want to encourage them to communicate Raise Your Voice messages to their college-aged constituents.

Key activities policymakers may help out with the campaign include:

• Participating in the taping of a PSA for placement in the policymaker’s district.

• Sharing program materials with key educators and college and university presidents in their district.

• Participating in a community service project in their district with local college and university students.

• Taking part in a campus dialogue with college students on civic responsibility and service.

• Authoring op-eds on youth involvement, press releases, floor statements applauding Raise Your Voice – A Week of Action.

Policymakers have busy and demanding schedules, but they welcome their constituents’ input, both as a way of gauging community opinion and learning about issues with which they may not be familiar. It is important that you communicate with your public officials to keep them up-to-date with news on the campaign and its relevance to the community’s general welfare.

When meeting with policymakers or staff it is important to provide them with the information and tools that present them with a clear understanding of the campaign. By keeping them in the loop, you will encourage the policymaker’s continued interest in the importance of the campaign.