Pitching In: Advocacy Help Needed

Susie Marks built her career in advocacy. But even when she’s off the clock, she’s still an advocate, volunteering for AARP as it champions issues at the Arkansas State Legislature.

“It’s important for me to use my voice for those who cannot use their voice,” says Marks, who is also executive director of the Arkansas Nurses Association.

Advocacy — despite its formal title — is something that comes naturally to many people, Marks says. Whether you’ve spoken up for someone, helped a loved one choose a health care plan, or guided them through applying for Social Security benefits — that’s advocacy in action, she says.

AARP offices in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana are seeking people to volunteer during upcoming legislative sessions.

Advocacy volunteers are “the muscle behind the engine” that helps AARP wield the power of its membership in statehouses and pass laws important to those 50 and over, says Chris McCoy, AARP Arkansas’ director of advocacy and outreach.

Andrew Muhl, AARP Louisiana’s director of advocacy, says volunteers are constituents who might encounter legislators in the grocery store or at church. “They’re the ones that really can hold legislators accountable on issues of importance,” he says.

Volunteers don’t need to live near the state capital. They can reach out to voters, speak in their communities and make phone calls. Those interested in the legislative process can also get involved by attending committee meetings, talking to legislators and influencing bills.

AARP’s advocacy typically focuses on issues such as health care, retirement savings, age discrimination and caregiving.

Interested? Contact AARP Mississippi at msaarp@aarp.org, AARP Louisiana at amuhl@aarp.org or AARP Arkansas at cmmccoy@aarp.org.