Tag Archives: Advocacy

Junior League of Minneapolis Little Black Dress Initiative

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LBDI Advocate: Melissa McAlpine

Donate Here: https://www.jlminneapolis.org/fundraisers/lbdi/

Our members are wearing the same black dress or outfit for five consecutive days from September 20-24, 2021. Wearing an outfit for five straight days draws attention to the opportunity gap by symbolizing one of the many barriers to learning for high mobility students – not having consistent access to their own clothes, toys and books. LBDI gives us an opportunity to celebrate and fund JLM’s projects that inspire a love of learning, which can help kids who face these kinds of pressures.

  • How many years have you been in the JLM? What committee are you on?

I’m a 5th year active and currently serving as the VP of Community.

  • With so many great organizations to support, why should others choose to support the JLM?

JLM is passionate about improving the community through volunteerism  –  its members roll up their sleeves and get the work done. JLM is also committed to developing the potential of women.

  • What do you enjoy about volunteering with the JLM? What motivates you to volunteer?

It’s the connections for me – the connections with the children and their families at our community partners and the connections with JLM members.

  • What prompted you to join in the LBDI initiative this year?

I had such a positive experience last year and want to replicate it while having the opportunity to bring attention to the opportunity gap and JLM’s community projects.

  • What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope to continue to raise awareness about the opportunity gap and the underlying issues that negatively impact learning for high mobility students and contribute to the opportunity gap.

  • What do you do when you aren’t working or volunteering?

Being somewhat new to Minnesota, I enjoy exploring and being a tourist in the Twin Cities and the surrounding area – especially the lakes. I also love running along the Mississippi River, practicing yoga, reading historical fiction, and cooking/baking.

Junior League of Minneapolis Little Black Dress Initiative

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LBDI Advocate: Amanda Theisen

Donate Here: https://www.jlminneapolis.org/fundraisers/lbdi/

Our members are wearing the same black dress or outfit for five consecutive days from September 20-24, 2021. Wearing an outfit for five straight days draws attention to the opportunity gap by symbolizing one of the many barriers to learning for high mobility students – not having consistent access to their own clothes, toys and books. LBDI gives us an opportunity to celebrate and fund JLM’s projects that inspire a love of learning, which can help kids who face these kinds of pressures. 

  • How many years have you been in the JLM? What committee are you on?

I’ve been in the JLM since 2011 – this year marks my 10th active year. This year, I’m serving as the VP of Public Affairs. 

  • With so many great organizations to support, why should others choose to support the JLM?

The JLM offers the unique opportunity for women to develop the skills, talents and networks necessary to make a difference and become involved in working towards common community goals and interests. We emphasize that we are a training organization – we want women who are passionate and enthusiastic to join our efforts, and then, we’ll help them develop their skills so they can make an impact now and many years down the line. The JLM also brings together many voices in order to highlight how working to close the opportunity gap affects so many people, including students, teachers, families and whole communities.

  • What do you enjoy about volunteering with the JLM? What motivates you to volunteer?

I have developed so many great relationships throughout my time in the JLM. This work has allowed me to expand my personal and professional networks of women, introduced me to some fantastic community partners and opened my eyes to the inequities students in Minnesota have faced for many years.

I come from a family that is very passionate about giving back and devoting time and talent to important causes. My work in the JLM and other community organizations I’m part of helps to extend that legacy. In addition to JLM, I am also involved with ThreeSixty Journalism, the PTO at Richfield STEM Elementary and with Girl Scouts River Valleys (my 7-year-old is in her first year as a Brownie Girl Scout). 

  • What prompted you to join in the LBDI initiative this year?

I have participated in LBDI since the JLM launched the initiative in 2019. I think it is a great way to not only show why the JLM is important to me, but it also showcases the causes we’re working hard to address in a unique and engaging way. By using my social platforms to show myself in the same outfit for five straight days, I’m able to connect with family, friends and followers from across many networks and help them make the connection that these are challenges many children face every day.

  • What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I hope to continue my advocacy for students across Minnesota who are experiencing hardships and inequities on a daily basis. I do a lot of work in the field of racial and health equity for my day job, so connecting my professional work with my volunteer work in the JLM and other organizations is really important to me.

  • What do you do when you aren’t working or volunteering?

My husband and I have two little girls, ages 7 and 3. So when I’m not working or volunteering, we’re usually out doing something fun as a family! My girls love to go places like  the Minnesota Children’s Museum, the Minnesota Zoo, Mall of America and CHS Field for a Saints baseball game! This fall, we will definitely visit some local apple orchards and other fun fall destinations. I also enjoy cooking, taking walks in my neighborhood and listening to podcasts.

Elise Sarvas, Advocate for Children’s Oral Health

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Elise (second from right) with her pediatric dental residents in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

How are you an advocate?

I am the Public Policy Advocate (PPA) for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. You can read more about the position here. Basically, I serve as the representative for the AAPD on the state level to promote children’s oral health in state policies. Every state has their own unique needs for their PPA. In Minnesota, I am concerned with raising the reimbursement rate for children’s oral health services. We like to think of Minnesota as a progressive state when it comes to taking care of our children, but the reality is that we rank dead last in paying for dental services for kids. This means that children who are on state insurance like Medicaid or Medical Assistance programs can’t get the care they need because the dentists get paid too low to see them. So while they “have dental insurance” they can’t use it because the dentists can’t pay for staff, supplies, and time to see them. We are the worst in the country – it’s really shameful. 

How did you learn to be an advocate?

I’ve learned on the job! There is no one way to do advocacy and how I approach it changes on the day and who I’m speaking with. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is to investigate who all the stakeholders are. Once you understand their perspective, you can start to make some ground. There are so many issues that seem like they have easy solutions, but if they were that easy to solve, I’d like to think we would have already done it. Once you understand who all is involved, you can reach out to them in a personalized way. 

What are skills that would be good to know?

I was at first a reluctant advocate. It’s outside my comfort zone to talk to people I don’t know. But whatever squeamishness I have is far outweighed by the chance to do good for someone who can’t speak for themselves. And that’s my trick – I’m not asking for something for me, I’m asking for someone else who needs it. It gets me outside my head and that’s the only skill you really need. That and some persistence 🙂

Every year Elise takes her pediatric dental residents to DC to learn how to talk to lawmakers. Here she is with her team and with Representative Betty McCollum (District IV – DFL, Minn).

Advocacy Event: Coffee with Congressman Keith Ellison

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The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) hosts many events and trainings throughout the year, including a Coffee with Congress series.  These gatherings are informative and honest, giving citizens direct access to representative’s perspective and priorities.  It also provides a venue to ask questions and share your own ideas.  At the very least, it’s a great first step into Advocacy!

Join MCN for their next coffee with Congressman Keith Ellison, representing Minnesota’s fifth congressional district, onThursday, May 28, from 3 – 4 p.m. at the Lutheran Social Service – Center for Changing Lives in Minneapolis.

If interested, sign up here.  And be sure to reach out to next year’s Advocacy Chair Carrie Curtis to share your experience!

Successful Storytelling

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“Storytelling” has become a big buzzword around the Junior League of Minneapolis lately. As members, we share stories with others to explain the Junior League, why we joined and what the Achievement Gap means to us.  I think we can all admit that effective storytelling can be hard though. That’s where the FrameWorks Institute comes into play.  They are a research group that helps nonprofits communicate on social problems.  Below are three of their tips for success:

Data are more powerful when woven into a story.  Given only data, the audience is more likely to mold that information to fit their beliefs than allow it to change their minds. But when you combine facts and values in a narrative, you’re more likely to change public opinion and policy.

Be careful when using vivid examples.   For example, sharing the story of a man who works his way out of homelessness may suggest that anyone who works hard can do the same.

Tell success stories about groups of people.  By telling success stories about collective triumph, you will prompt your audience to action rather than just sympathy.

You can read more about FrameWorks Institute and their tips for storytelling here. Consider these when telling your next Junior League or other personal advocacy story.

Post contributed by Carrie Curtis.