“Advocacy works”: Experts on Poverty bring connection and impact to Washington, DC

Right now, millions of families across the country are feeling abandoned as the government shutdown worsens hardships. The White House has made the cruel choice to hold back SNAP benefits. As someone who’s relied on SNAP before, I know how much this program matters. It makes the difference between having groceries in your kitchen or going hungry.

That’s why I was grateful to have the privilege and opportunity to be in Washington, DC recently. It was an opportunity for me to remind our lawmakers that behind every policy decision are real people and families like mine.

Leaders with lived experience of poverty went to DC for more than lobbying

I live in Lexington, Kentucky’s 6th district. We are represented by Andy Barr. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are my senators. I’ve been a part of the RESULTS community for years, including in my current role as an Expert on Poverty (EOP).

The EOP program brings together advocates who have personally experienced economic hardship and now lead alongside RESULTS volunteers across the country. We’ve all used safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid. We draw on our lived experience to push for smarter, more compassionate policies.

This trip to DC marked the first time in six years that all of us could gather in person. It was powerful. For me, it was more than just a reunion commemorating ten years of the EOP program. It was a reminder that we are not alone in this work. We each carry our own stories. But when we’re together, those stories weave into something bigger, a tapestry of incredible truth, resilience, and possibility.

There’s always room to build connection, even when advocacy isn’t easy

Leading up to the summit, I had communication with office schedulers but I wasn’t able to secure meeting confirmation from either Andy Barr’s office or Mitch McConnell’s office. It was pretty disappointing and left me feeling uncertain walking onto Capitol Hill. However, I was able to do “pop-in” meetings with staffers.

Even though these meetings were with “lower-level staff,” our meetings were phenomenal. My 10-year-old son, Westley, and I still had strong moments of relationship building with these staffers. We shared why it was so important for us to be standing in those offices.

These congressional offices were held accountable for their lack of responsible and reasonable communication. They saw that even though they “ghosted” us and avoided our calls, we were still showing up. No matter what, we will always be here representing our community in Kentucky. No matter what their choices are, I will always be here advocating for individuals and families who are struggling every day and deserve more.

My child experienced the impact of connection in our advocacy

Westley was amazed to see firsthand that the reason we were in those offices was to help real people. He bonded with the staff over their shared love of Kentucky Wildcats basketball and football (Go Big Blue!). And we also spoke about the challenges we see every single day. We see our neighbors experiencing homelessness on our corners. Parents in our community work full-time while also going to school and doing everything they can to provide for their families. I could see my son understanding, in a very real way, how powerful it is to speak up for the people we care about.

The moments where my son witnessed advocacy in action really brought home for me why we do this work. When we tell our stories, we bring our lived experiences into those spaces. We don’t just share statistics or complaints, we create human connections. It’s happening even in the moments that seem small. To borrow a thought from RESULTS Executive Director, Joanne Carter: these connections can open even the giant doors of Capitol Hill, doors created to intimidate us.

Advocacy works when it comes from the heart

My biggest takeaway from this visit to Washington, DC is that advocacy works when it comes from the heart. Every conversation, every visit, every story we tell matters. I want to encourage everyone to keep leaning into that. It could be writing a letter to the editor, meeting with our member of Congress, or talking with our community. Every voice matters, every story matters. Together we can continue to weave a tapestry that represents all of our truths and all of our beautiful possibilities.