What Advocacy Means to Me

I know firsthand what it feels like to struggle without these basic care supports.  

When people hear the word advocacy, they often picture politicians, lawyers, or people standing behind podiums in Washington, D.C. I know I used to. I thought advocacy belonged to people with titles. People with influence. People who knew all the laws.  

But through my advocacy with MomsRising, I have learned something. The most powerful advocates are often ordinary people with extraordinary stories. People like you. People like me. Moms. Dads. Grandparents. Teachers. Foster parents. Caregivers. Neighbors. People who simply decided they were not going to stay silent any longer.  

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When I talk to moms like you, I hear experts. Not because of degrees. But because moms have lived it. Maybe you have struggled to find affordable child care. Maybe you have experienced high-risk pregnancies. Maybe you have navigated postpartum depression. Maybe you have spent hours on the phone fighting with insurance. Maybe you have opened your home to foster children. Maybe you have worried about how to pay for groceries, daycare, therapy, or school supplies. No one can tell your story better than you can. When lawmakers debate policies, they see numbers. We see faces. They see budgets. We see babies.  They see legislation. We see families.

That is why your voice is so important. Because while statistics may inform policy, it’s stories that change hearts. And changed hearts changes policies. So what does advocacy actually look like? It is not just marching in the streets. Sometimes advocacy is as simple as writing a letter to your elected officials. Sometimes it is recording a two-minute video sharing your family's experience. Sometimes it is speaking at a school board meeting. Sometimes it is talking to a reporter...writing a blog....or simply having a conversation with another parent who feels alone. Every one of those actions matters. 

Sharing My Truth

At MomsRising, we believe parents are the experts. No one understands what families need better than the families living it every single day. That is why MomsRising helps parents connect with lawmakers, share their stories, write letters, attend meetings, speak to the media, and build communities that create lasting change. You don't have to become an expert in public policy. You just have to become willing to tell your truth.

This is my truth:

• I know what it’s like to lose babies.
• I know what it’s like to bring home a miracle.
• I know what it feels like to recover from a C-section while returning to work far too soon (two weeks after giving birth to be exact!) because I didn’t have access to paid family and medical leave.
• I know what it's like to open our home to foster children who need speech therapy, behavioral support, and stability.
• I know what it feels like to pay high child care and health care costs out of pocket because you want the best care possible for children who have already been through enough.
• I know what it feels like to wonder how we would make it after your partner lost their job on the day you should be celebrating the birth of your child. 

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And I know I am not the only one. Your story may look different. But it matters just as much. Imagine if every person reading this shared one story. Imagine if every person wrote one letter. Attended one meeting. Recorded one video. Met one legislator. Encouraged one friend to speak up. Imagine the ripple effect. That is how change begins. 

That is why MomsRising helps parents connect with lawmakers, share their stories, write letters, attend meetings, speak to the media, and build communities that create lasting change. You don't have to become an expert in public policy. You just have to become willing to tell your truth.

 

It begins with one person deciding..."My story is worth telling." So today, I am asking you to do one thing. Share your story. Write it. Record it. Speak it. Because somewhere there is another parent who needs to hear it. Somewhere there is a child whose future could be different because you chose to speak. And somewhere there is a lawmaker who has never met someone like you. Let's change that.

• Let's make sure families are not just talked about but heard.

• Let's make sure children are not just counted, but cared for.

• Let's make sure parents are not just surviving, but thriving. 

Because together, our stories become something bigger than ourselves. They become hope. They become action. And they become change.

Join the MOMentum. Join the millions of moms who are part of MomsRising. Raise your voice. Share your story. Change hearts and minds. Make a difference.  

Frequently Asked Questions

How has advocacy work with MomsRising shaped Kat’s perspective?

Kat learned through her advocacy with MomsRising that every person has a story to share that sharing it can result in real change.

Why is it important for moms and families to share their stories?

While statistics may inform policy, it’s stories that change hearts. And changed hearts changes policies.

What is Kat’s truth in her personal experiences that she has learned to share with her community?

Kat shares her truth involving the loss of her babies. recovering from a C-section and returning to work too soon, fostering children, paying high costs of child care and health care, and recovering from her partner's job loss, and sharing her story inspires her to encourage others to share their truth as well.