Recorded presentation

Alicia Bohlke, Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition, 3317 M St., Merced, CA 95348, 209-384-5744, mmac@chw.edu

How did a chance to get involved in the political process grow into some powerful political opportunities? I've asked myself that question many times since I agreed to speak to a California Senate Subcommittee on behalf of CAFA. As the mother of a 6-year old asthmatic son and the Program Manager of an Asthma Coalition, my desire to fight asthma has always been strong but I never thought I'd be speaking to a legislative body determined to change the way we look at the disease and it's potential causes. But I did and I have learned how to take local political issues from the people and present them to those elected to represent us.

Most of us know that life is about relationships, that fact is never more evident than in policy work. I found that if you want to be heard, you should establish relationships with the people you think can help facilitate change and you need to have an idea in your head of what you want that change to look like. I learned the importance of never turning down an opportunity no matter how small or insignificant we think they may be, because those small victories can create big successes in the future. I have learned how to make and keep political relationships without a big pocketbook or long-standing family ties. Find out how saying yes to an unlikely or frightening opportunity can create policy change and how you can do the same thing!

Learning Objectives:

• - Discuss how community members can get involved in the policy process.
• - Describe how a community representative can take local issues and bring them to the attention of policymakers.

Keywords: Asthma, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation