From Moments to Momentum, Making An Advocacy Habit 

Effective advocacy is ongoing; it isn’t a single phone call; it’s a professional relationship built on trust. In Part 1, we talked about why your voice matters. In Part 2, we mapped out the 136th General Assembly. Now, we look at how to weave advocacy into the fabric of our work as career development professionals to create long-term systemic change for Ohioans.

Become a Trusted Resource

The goal of advocacy is for a legislative aide to think of career development professionals and the hard work of OCDA when they have a question about the workforce.

• Build Trust: Take initial steps to establish a relationship with legislators and their aides so that your knowledge has a more powerful impact. Attend a legislator’s office hours, engage in local events in your district, attend OCDA’s legislative day, or any other way to introduce yourself and begin engaging.
• Stay Organized: Organize your talking points and the data that can support them before reaching out. Having clarity and maintaining information can help make these interactions more casual and provide clear and concise conversations centered on our clients!
• The Update: Every few months, send a brief "view from the ground" email to your representative’s office as it relates to direct legislation. What is the number one hurdle your clients are facing right now? Is it childcare? Transportation? Tech literacy? Don't just reach out when a bill is bad; reach out when you see something working well in your role! If they are looking for an official statement, please refer them to the OCDA GRC or NCDA GRC.

The Power of In-Person Site Visits

Nothing changes a legislator’s perspective like seeing the work in action. It’s one thing to read a brief about "workforce barriers"; it is quite another to watch a client navigate a confusing, multi-layered digital application on an outdated computer terminal. When legislators step into our offices, they see the exact friction points and celebration points that impact our clients!

• The Invite: Invite your State Representative or Senator to visit your office and see the important work being done on a daily basis
• The Impact: Let them meet the people behind the numbers, as meeting the clients served by legislation can have a drastically different impact than the legislation alone. From higher education to those changing careers and re-entering the workforce, and everyone in between, meeting these clients can have a profound impact on our representatives.

Advocacy is a team sport, and we want you on our team!

• Join the Committee: Engage more deeply with our Government Relations Committee, when we speak as a unified body of career professionals, our leverage in Ohio is amplified. Email Sarah or Newton if you are interested in joining a meeting, as we would love to showcase the collaborative work we do every month.

Conclusion: A Thriving Ohio

Advocacy is the bridge between a client’s struggle and a legislator’s solution. By moving from occasional contact to a consistent, professional presence, you ensure that the future of Ohio’s workforce is built on reality, not just theory.

Are you interested in putting knowledge into action? Join us for the 4th annual OCDA Legislative Day!

Keep the conversation going! If you are interested in learning more about our committee’s work, attending future meetings, or joining us for events, please email either Sarah or Newton and we would be happy to connect with you!

Onward,

Sarah JanTausch & Newton Kimberly | Co-Chairs, OCDA Government Relations Committee