Connecting with your federal Representatives and Senators is an important part of advocating for Community Action funding. Start scheduling a visit several months in advance, as congressional calendars fill up quickly. If you would like help planning a visit, please get in touch with the Illinois Poverty Action Council (IPAC), IACAA's lobbying and advocacy organization.
Host a Visit at Your Agency: Elected officials love meeting with constituents. Inviting them to visit your Agency is a great way to build a working relationship. The best visits involve activities, such as reading to Head Start children, visiting a home being weatherized, or visiting a food pantry.
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Visit a Congressperson's District Office: You will often have more time to visit with your Congressperson in their district office near you than you would if you went to Washington, D.C.
- Request a visit with your Congressperson. IPAC can assist in scheduling the visit and guide you through each step of the process.
- Visit the local office staff and focus on how you can help them with constituent services. Offer to assist their constituents who call with utility concerns or other issues that are not directly related to the federal government.
- Invite local Congressional office staff to attend a Board meeting or other events at your Agency.
- Getting to know the staff of your elected officials is the most effective way to build a strong working relationship with your member of Congress.
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Go to Washington, D.C.: Meeting with your congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., is a unique experience. Attending the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) annual conference in March is a great way to experience the nation's capital and visit with your elected officials.
- Budget for participation in the NCAF conference. Executive Directors, Board members, and staff are welcome as your budgets allow. Attending the NCAF conference and visiting Capitol Hill are advocacy activities.
- Let IPAC know you are attending. IPAC will coordinate scheduling Hill visits with you.
- Develop brief, well-curated material. IPAC will work with you to develop material to distribute at the visit.
At every visit with Congressional representatives or their staff:
- Thank them for serving the people of Illinois (regardless of whether you agree with them).
- Ask how we can help the member of Congress. This can include constituent services and providing data or success stories.
- Send a thank-you email after the visit.
- Let IPAC know how the visit went.