Advocacy Champions
Advocates Visit Officials During Day at the Capitol
United Way urges everyone to “give, advocate and volunteer,” and “advocate” was the order of the day February 15 when 10 United Way of Tarrant County donors, volunteers, agency executives and staff spent a day at the Capitol in Austin. They were among an estimated 125 advocates from 14 Texas United Ways. The day’s events included a breakfast briefing, press conference, recognition in the House and Senate Chambers, visits to the Tarrant County legislative delegation and a reception.
Advocates in the United Way of Tarrant County group shared with the legislators three local areas of focus:
- Increasing training hours for child care center staff
- Maintaining funding for Adult Basic Education and the Texas Workforce Commission’s Life Skills Fund to support employer work training
- Maintaining funding for community-based services for older adults and people with disabilities
“The members of the Legislature really wanted to hear what the United Way had to say,” said Judy Martin, a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Society. “It was very clear this was an advocacy for ‘The People’ of the community of Texas, and the members of the Legislature were quietly reminded they are there to serve the community - just by United Way's presence.”
The press conference on the steps of the Capitol featured remarks by State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) and State Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas), who spoke about the importance of hearing from local voices during the tough budget decisions that are imminent.
Carolyn Poirot, a member of the United Way Health Council, said she was impressed by the assertion of one official’s legislative director that “we can all make a big difference by personally sending letters and cards to our own legislator—the people we get to vote for or against.”
Read Carolyn Poirot’s account of the day here.
During their day in Austin, advocates heard about two revenue-neutral bills that United Ways of Texas staff helped author:
- HB 34 (Branch) requires that financial literacy courses in high schools include information on paying for college and other post-secondary education.
- HB 1248 (Villarreal) expands public/private dental sealant programs, allowing dentists to be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement when applying dental sealants at low-income public schools with full parental permission and consent.
The day culminated in a reception at the home of University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, M.D., and his wife, Graciela, who are both strong supporters of United Way.
Public Policy Committee
Click here to see the United Way Public Policy Committee members who advocate for education, income and health.
