We all know some things are best left up to the experts. Dentistry comes to mind. Same with flying an airplane, fixing a computer, getting a haircut … we trust the experts to get things done right.
But we often forget to recognize that we are experts, even in more ways than we realize. Our life experiences, who we care about, our passions and our ambitions make us all unique experts. Your expertise in your life and community makes you a powerful advocate, and you can use that power to make a difference.
The League’s Community Engagement team is all about making a difference, and they have created an Advocacy 101 workshop to share their knowledge and empower others to join in on advocacy efforts. (And may we share a pro tip, expert to expert? Advocacy is especially important during budget season! Click here to learn more about Michigan’s budget process, including how and when to influence the state budget through advocacy. And click here to check out the League’s 2023 budget priorities, which may align with your advocacy efforts and provide valuable data.)
Here’s a little sneak peek into the Advocacy 101 presentation from our Community Engagement team. We hope it inspires you to use your power and expertise in advocacy!
What is advocacy?
Advocacy is making your voice heard. By using your voice and your expertise, you can influence decisions. Advocacy can be done as an individual or with a group. You can advocate for yourself, for someone in your family, for someone in your community or for people you serve in an organization. You can advocate within a political system, whether it’s participating in a local town hall meeting or contacting members of Congress. Advocacy really can be done in any system or institution for any number of people.
Why advocate?
Decisions are made whether you engage or not. If you want a say in a decision, advocacy is your answer.
- Advocate to further your mission. Legislation/policy impacts your community and/or your organization’s ability to provide services.
- Advocate to change public policy. You can address core causes of human suffering. Your voice truly matters and can make a difference.
- Advocate to change culture. Your lived experiences give you the gift of telling your story. Sharing your story is incredibly powerful; you can educate, raise awareness, and even change minds. You can also find fellow advocates and allies, and become more acquainted with your lawmakers so they recognize you as the trusted expert you are. As League Community Engagement Specialist Jayme Vosovic puts it, “The biggest way to make change is to build relationships.”
There are many ways to influence the introduction and passage of bills. If you have not already developed relationships with your local, state and federal representatives, this is where you should start.
- Attend local town halls and coffee hours so you can get to know your state officials.
- Attend local county and city commission meetings.
- Email or call your representatives when you have thoughts on passing legislation.
- You can also request a virtual meeting with an elected official. As we continue to work and connect through various stages of the coronavirus pandemic, virtual connections may be preferred. Click here for a dozen ways to engage remotely.
Do as many of these things as you can to build trust and rapport with your representatives. This is vital to ensuring your voice has weight in future policy decisions.
The Three Legs of Successful Advocacy
The key to effective advocacy is ensuring a balance between legislative advocacy, media and public communications, and grassroots mobilization, which includes education. You or your organization may not be able to tackle all of these elements at once, which is why it is extremely important to partner with other organizations and leaders who can fill in the gaps.
For example, you may have the experience and capacity to facilitate public education, but you may not have the relationships or time to develop relationships with elected officials. Someone else is most likely engaging in legislative advocacy already, so try seeking those folks out before stretching yourself too thin.
And make sure you open the door to all potential allies. Jayme often quotes our Community Engagement Director, Renell Weathers. “There are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent issues.”
Our Community Engagement team travels all over Michigan making connections within communities and speaking on advocacy. If you have questions or your organization would like to know more about advocacy, you can contact Renell at rweathers@mlpp.org.
There is a great quote from Alice Walker: “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
You have power. Your voice and your story are powerful. How will you use your expertise to make a difference?
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
