1. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Advocacy in Action: Being an Effective Advocate Webinar: January 21, 2016 1 Taryn E. Anthony – Fairfax County Alumnae Pat Evans – Northern Virginia Alumnae Vickie R. Williams-Cullins – Newport News Alumnae

2. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Agenda Welcome / Greetings Our Charge Making a Lasting Impression with Your Elected Official Officials Reaching across the Aisle Navigating LIS to track Virginia Legislation Q & A

3. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Our Charge Since its inception in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has been at the forefront of social activism and political advocacy Deltas throughout the world have committed ourselves to be agents of change. “Deltas do not socialize….We actualize and mobilize!” 2015 Delta Days in the Nation's Capital: The Honorable Frankie Muse Freeman, Esq., 14th NP, charged: "Y'all got work to do!“

4. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Making a Lasting Impression With Your Elected Officials Taryn E. Anthony

5. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Being An Effective Advocate w/Elected Officials Participation in the political process means communicating with your elected representatives to express your position on a variety of policy issues. Lobbying your legislators is about persuading them to take a desired action. The current political climate has brought out the activist in everyone – Deltas must stand out to ensure that our messages are heard. Federal, State and Local Elected Officials typically have several groups lobbying them on a variety of issues at any given time so it’s vitally important that we are: – Clear in our message; – Informed in our positions; – Prepared to address the “What’s in it for me.”

6. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Preparing for Your Legislative Visit - Know Your Audience Some questions you may consider answering before your meeting are: – What is the Member’s party affiliation? – What is their place on the political spectrum (right, left, or center)? – How long he/she been in their position? – What type of district does he/she represent (rural, urban, mixed)? – What is the political landscape of the state he/she represents? – What are some of the key industries in his/her district? – What committees does he/she sit on? – What leadership positions does he/she hold? – Who are the key staff members in his/her office? – Does he/she have a personal connection to Delta? – What is his/her voting record on issues that Delta prioritizes? – How important are these issues to them?

7. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Preparing for Your Legislative Visit - Know Your Agenda Prepare for the meeting ahead of time by creating a brief agenda of the topics you will discuss. Be clear about your end goal – what do you want the legislator to do AFTER the meeting. Consult your federal/state legislative resource to get the most current status of the specific legislation you wish to discuss. Create and share your advance materials – send an email a few days before you arrive with info on who will attend the meeting and what issues you all will discuss. Structure your arguments so that they address the following key areas: – Local Impact – Talk about how the issue specifically affects the chapter and the legislator's home district. – Regional Impact – Discuss the various policy/regulatory implications for your state/region. – Economic Impact – Discuss the tangible economic benefits/detriments of the issue. Break it down to dollars and cents for the legislator, if possible.

8. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Advance Materials – What Your Legislator Needs to Know Before Meeting with You A recent study conducted by the Congressional Management Foundation indicates that many Capitol Hill staff prefer to receive advance materials so that they are prepared to meet with you. Create a Chapter Public Relations Packet that covers topics such as: – Chapter Fact Sheet – You want to clearly articulate the Chapter’s footprint within the elected officials district (# of members, sample of professions, civic engagement represented). – Programs & Projects – Share an overview document about the Chapter’s programs to demonstrate the needs you fill within your community. – Scholarship Overview – Share with the elected officials how much money your chapter has raised/intends to distribute.

9. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Leave Your Mark & Open the Door for Ongoing Communications Be sure to retain the contact information for key staffers in the office and invite them to public service events. Engage them at critical times in the legislative year and find ways to include them if they are champions of issues that we care about. While we must be VERY prudent in this area, consider asking a staffer to participate in a community forum/town hall discussion on a specific issue. Domestic Violence Panel that includes the legislator who introduced specific measures on the topic. Find an appropriate social action angle to chapter events and articulate that (i.e. voter registration at local high school football games

10. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Developed By: Soror Jeanine H. Arnett Loudoun County Alumnae Chapter Director, Public Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) jeaninearnett@gmail.com jeaninearnett@gmail.com Presented By: Soror Taryn E. Anthony Fairfax County Alumnae Social Action Committee Taryn.Anthony@gmail.com

11. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Reaching Across the Aisle Pat Evans

12. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Know your long-term goal, purpose for reaching across the aisle - making compromises with those of the opposing party in order to write legislation, or cooperate on passing legislation. Focus on Interest, not position, not people, not party “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” ― Dr. Henry Kissinger, The White House Years, 1979.Dr. Henry Kissinger Focus on Strategy

13. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Research and educate yourself on the issues Research and educate yourself on your opponents’ viewpoints – does not mean you agree with them Empathize/Understand your Opponents’ Viewpoints Studying the Issues

14. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss. If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose. If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself. The Art of War, Sun Tzu, around the end of the sixth century BCE, beginning around 512 BCE. Studying the Issues, cont’d

15. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Recognize your ingroup-outgroup biases. (e.g., when GW Bush tried to raise minimum payments, banking groups convinced minorities Bush was being racist.) Confront your confirmation bias. (e.g., people still believe – wrongly - that Michael Brown of Ferguson had his hands up shouting “Don’t Shoot,” even though DOJ has proven that Brown was attacking the policeman and the policeman shot back in self-defense.) Pay Attention to Others Prepare for a Long-Term (years) engagement Getting Along

16. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Engagement Open civil/polite/respectful dialogue Recognize that there are alternative positions – not just black or white. Work to create/innovate options that can satisfy both parties. Separate the person from the issue.

17. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Continue to engage – send notes, brochures, letters Communicate – Communicate - Communicate Follow Up

18. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Fisher, Roger, William Ury, and Bruce Patton. Getting to Yes: Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving In. Penguin Books, 1991. Sun Tzu. Art of War. - The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu, a high-ranking military general, strategist and tactician, 512 BCE. Suggested Reading

19. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Presented By: Soror Pat Evans Northern Virginia Alumnae (NoVAC) Consultant nishon@aol.com

20. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Navigating LIS to track Virginia Legislation Vickie R. Williams-Cullins

21. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System 21 What am I? LIS is short for Legislative Information System. Legislative Information System. This system allows the public and advocates alike to search and track legislation in the Virginia General Assembly.

22. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System, cont’d 22

23. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System, cont’d 23

24. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System, cont’d 24

25. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System, cont’d 25

26. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System, cont’d 26

27. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System, cont’d 27

28. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Virginia’s Legislative Information System, cont’d 28

29. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Suggested Resources 29 Resources https://lis.virginia.gov/ https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2016 /sj12/ http://www.vpap.org/

30. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Originated By: Soror Lashrecse D. Aird Petersburg Alumnae Social Action Chair lashrecsejones@yahoo.com Presented and Developed By: Soror Vickie R. Williams-Cullins Newport News Alumnae Chapter 2nd Vice President Membership Chair Regional Fellow Vickchill@gmail.com Vickchill@gmail.com

31. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Questions???

32. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Webinar Team SororChapterTitle Lashrecse AirdPetersburg AlumnaeSocial Action Chair Taryn E. AnthonyFairfax County AlumnaeSocial Action Committee Jeanine H. ArnettLoudoun County AlumnaeSocial Action Committee Pat EvansNorthern Virginia AlumnaeConsultant LaShan ForneyNorthern Virginia AlumnaeMember, National Technology Committee Ava FosterFairfax County AlumnaeSA Regional Social Action Committee Chair Yvonne LewisVirginia Beach AlumnaeSA Regional VA State Social Action Committee Chair Vickie R. Williams-CullinsNewport News Alumnae2 nd Vice President

33. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Social Action Leadership Team SororChapterTitle Ava FosterFairfax County AlumnaeSA Regional Social Action Committee Chair LaShan ForneyNorthern Virginia AlumnaeMember, National Technology Committee Yvonne LewisVirginia Beach AlumnaeSA Regional VA State Social Action Committee Chair

34. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. THANK YOU !