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SUMMARY:Preparing for August Recess Through Strategic Advocacy  
DESCRIPTION:Register				\n							\n		The August congressional recess is one of the most important timeframes for nonprofits to influence their representatives\, but it can be challenging to determine the most impactful pathways to engage and advocate. This session will share how to use power mapping to develop strategies that reflect organizational values\, address challenging political dynamics\, and encourage community-wide involvement. Participants will learn how to use influence mapping to design precise\, legislator-specific engagement strategies ahead of August recess. \nTakeaways\n\nDistinguish between formal authority and informal influence\nMap ideological incentives and electoral pressures\nIdentify bipartisan strategies\nDevelop legislator-specific engagement plans for August recess\nBuild influence while mitigating reputational risk\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nMembers of the Social Current Grassroots Advocacy Network: Join online\nExecutive Directors and Senior Management: Leaders responsible for setting organizational strategy and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders\nAdvocacy and Policy Directors: Individuals who develop and implement advocacy strategies and engage in policy analysis and outreach\nCommunications and Public Relations Managers: Professionals focused on crafting and disseminating the organization’s message to the public and media\nProgram Managers and Coordinators: Staff who oversee program implementation and need to align program goals with advocacy efforts\n\n	\n\n					\n\n										\n		\n	\n\n\n	\n		\n					\n\n									\n					\n						\n															\n													\n							\n								Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n								\n																	Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n								\n																										Biography\n									\n										\n											\n												\n													\n														\n													\n												\n												\n													\n														\n															\n																\n	                              	\n																																					\n																																			\n																	\n																		\n																			Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n																																							Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n																																						\n																				Blair Kiser\, Ph.D.\, joined Social Current in 2022 after working in health policy on Capitol Hill\, the non-profit sector\, and as a biomedical researcher. Most recently\, Blair served as Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for NephCure Kidney International. \nDuring their time in public service\, they served as a Professional Staff Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. They led a corporate investigation regarding insider trading and financial improprieties\, conflicts of interest associated with Operation Warp Speed’s leadership\, and scientific information politicization. Prior to joining the Select Subcommittee\, they worked for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)\, where they served as a Health Policy Fellow. In Senator Brown’s office\, they led a range of legislative and oversight efforts involving public health and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, they worked with several community hospice advocacy organizations and a Republican office to help craft the bipartisan COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020. \nPrior to public service\, Blair spent several years as a medical research scientist on several industry and NIH-funded projects. Their work focused on developing research projects and clinical trials to improve the lives of African Americans with Sickle Cell Disease. They earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2011. \n																			\n																		\n																	\n																\n															\n														\n													\n												\n											\n										\n									\n								\n							\n						\n					\n\n									\n					\n						\n															\n													\n							\n								Abigail Levine\n								\n																	Field Mobilization and Policy Manager\nSocial Current
URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/preparing-for-august-recess-through-strategic-advocacy/
CATEGORIES:Policy
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