All summer, I traipsed on and off of Capitol Hill attempting to convince legislators that climate change is not only something to be concerned about, but something to actively legislate in response to. It was maybe the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had. No, stop laughing at me: over the course of the summer, I went from a mostly-cynical little millennial (or whatever generation they’re calling me now) to a strong proponent of political advocacy.
The objections to calling elected officials or getting involved in political advocacy generally fall into two camps: 1. It’s scary to get on the phone with people and tell them that you’re worried about something and 2. It feels like a complete waste of time. The second objection is the one I’m going to respond to because, I’ll be honest, I was in that position before this year. My qualms were many: what old white guy actually cares what I think? I don’t have money or connections; it feels like yelling at a brick wall of bureaucracy that I am never going to change in this lifetime.
My summer answered almost all of these qualms. Throughout the summer, I recognized that many legislators do genuinely care what their constituents think. If nothing else, there is the crass reality that they rely on our votes and a certain baseline of approval. I understand that it seems idealistic to assume that legislators actually are doing their work for the betterment of society, or that they are always working in the interests of the people who they are representing. However, it is true that they must answer to the concerns of their constituents.
There is also the issue that we, as a generation, have a bit of a reputation for cynical detachment. This is changing as concerted efforts like Black Lives Matter and the Sunrise Movement have coalesced, often featuring younger voices. It is important to find ways to engage with those movements and change leaders’ perceptions of young people as detached and uninterested.
This brings me to my final point. The spaces that I personally think are the most politically powerful are the works done within the context of a broader organization. This advocacy can look like reaching out to the likes of national immigration advocacy groups, or much smaller, like Mennonite Central Committee’s policy office, where I interned this summer. Groups like this have not only the connections, but the concerted voice to make sure that political change happens in ways that matter to you.
I have no idea how many of you I’ve convinced, but I’d welcome all of you to think about the things that fire you up, the things that you wish could change. Then reach out to your legislator of choice and voice your concerns.
If you don’t feel informed enough or up to the work of educating yourself on a specific issue, dig around and reach out to an organization that you know is already doing advocacy work. See if they are willing to either involve you in specific lobbying activities or get you involved in another way that feels comfortable to you.
