Slide 1:

Sharing Your Story 
Advocating In-Person, From Home, and Through Print & Online Media

Slide 2:

Tom Jedlowski
Director of Communications & Technology
Tennessee Disability Coalition
Nashville, TN

Slide 3: 

What weÕll cover today:
Why stories work 
In-Person Meetings 
Virtual Meetings 
Print Media & Letters to the Editor
Social Media & Online 
Your Action Plan 

Slide 4: 

By the end of this session, you'll know exactly how to use your story to influence the people who make decisions that affect your life.

You don't need to be a professional. You need to be you.

Slide 5: 

ÒFacts and data donÕt move people. Stories do.Ó Ð TN State Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hickson

People remember stories 22 times more than facts alone (Stanford research).
Legislators are voters' representatives Ñ a constituent's real experience carries enormous weight.
Your story is unique. No one else can tell it, and no one can argue with your own lived experience.

Slide 6: 

The Elements of a Compelling Advocacy Story

THE STAKES: What's at risk? What does this policy mean for your daily life, your child's future, or your family?

THE MOMENT: Describe one specific, concrete experience Ñ not a general summary. A single moment is more powerful than a list.

THE ASK: What do you want the listener to do? Be specific: co-sponsor this bill, vote yes, schedule a meeting.

THE CONNECTION: Show how your story connects to others Ñ you're not alone, and the issue affects many Tennesseans.

Slide 7: 

In-Person Meetings with Your Legislator:

Walking into a legislators office can be intimidating. It shouldnÕt.

When it comes to your own life, you are the expert in that meeting - and the realities of your life are exactly what they need to hear. 

Slide 8:

In Person Meetings with Your Legislator: Prepare

Find your legislators at capitol.tn.gov
Research their committees Ñ target relevant chairs
You can meet with legislators outside your district

Slide 9:

In-Person Meetings with Your Legislator: During

Introduce Yourself: Your name, your city, and one sentence on why youÕre here.
Tell Your Story: One specific experience. Real. Human. Yours.
Connect to Policy: Briefly explain how a bill, a policy, or budget decision affects people like you.
Make Your Ask: One clear, specific request. Vote yes. Co-sponsor this bill. Change this policy. 
Say Thank You: Thank staff too Ñ they brief the legislator before and after.

Slide 10:

In-Person Meetings with Your Legislator: After

Include a Photo: A printed photo from your visit Ñ with the legislator, at the capitol, or with your group Ñ puts a face on your story. Staff genuinely appreciate these, and they often end up on office walls.
Add a Handwritten Note: Even one or two sentences in your own handwriting signals this isn't a form letter. It came from you. That distinction matters enormously in a sea of emails and printed petitions.

Slide 11:

In-Person Meetings with Your Legislator: After
A photo + handwritten note is rare, human, and hard to forget. 
Do this every time.

Slide 12: 

Virtual Meetings with Your Legislator:

Virtual meetings are just as effective when you show up prepared.
And they remove barriers Ñ no travel, no parking, no missing work.

Slide 13: 

Virtual Meetings with Your Legislator: Before
Test your camera, mic, and speakers 10 minutes early
Sit with light in front of you, not behind
Dress business-casual Ñ what you'd wear in person
Keep a phone nearby as a backup dial-in
A clean or neutral background keeps focus on you

Slide 14: 

Virtual Meetings with Your Legislator: During
Introduce Yourself: Your name, your city, and one sentence on why youÕre here.
Tell Your Story: One specific experience. Real. Human. Yours.
Connect to Policy: Briefly explain how a bill, a policy, or budget decision affects people like you.
Make Your Ask: One clear, specific request. Vote yes. Co-sponsor. Schedule a follow-up.
Say Thank You: Thank staff too Ñ they brief the legislator before and after.

Slide 15:

Virtual Meetings with Your Legislator: After
Send a Thank You: Mail a written note within 48 hours with your photo and a handwritten line or two. Physical mail stands out when most follow-ups are emails.
Stay Connected: Follow your legislator on social media. Engage when they post on relevant topics. Relationships are built over time, not in a single call.

Slide 16: 

Virtual Meetings with Your Legislator: After
A photo + handwritten note is rare, human, and hard to forget. 
Do this every time.

Slide 17: 

Virtual Meetings with Your Legislator: After
Tag Them Publicly: Post on social media thanking your legislator for their time. Many have staff who monitor mentions. Public acknowledgment reinforces the relationship.
Share With Your Network: Tell other advocates what you learned. Your experience helps others prepare for their own meetings and builds collective power.

Slide 18: 

Engaging the Media: Print Newspapers & Social Media
Print Media: i.e. The Tennessean, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Johnson City Press, Commercial Appeal 
Social Media: i.e. Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter) 

Slide 19: 

Print Newspapers: Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor remain among the most-read sections of any newspaper. 
Tennessee legislators pay close attention to them Ñ they're a direct signal of constituent opinion in a politician's home district.

Slide 20: 

Print Newspapers: Letters to the Editor
Keep it under 250 words Ñ editors enforce limits strictly
Lead with your most important point
Use your real name and city Ñ anonymous letters carry less weight and are almost never printed 
Try to reference a recent story, bill, or vote to increase odds of publication
Submit online; check each paper's submission guidelines first

Slide 21: 

Print Newspapers: Letters to the Editor
Coordinate for Greater Impact!
One letter is good. Ten letters on the same topic on the same week is a movement.
Editors typically publish a representative selection of the letters they receive. The more submissions that support a particular idea, the more likely it gets covered Ñ even unpublished letters influence which ones make the cut.

Slide 22: 

Print Newspapers: Letters to the Editor
Coordinate for Greater Impact!
Coordinate with families, advocates, and partner organizations
Submit letters timed to a relevant news event, legislative session, or vote
Vary the writers and angles Ñ editors want a range of voices on a single issue, not a copy-paste
Share published pieces with legislators, their staff, and your own networks
Mail physical clippings to your legislators with a handwritten note

Slide 23: 

Engaging the Media: Social Media & Reaching Thousands Right From Your Phone
The modern advocacy landscape is social. 
You don't need a big following Ñ you need the right people to see your story.

Slide 24: 

Engaging the Media: Social Media & Reaching Thousands Right From Your Phone
Facebook Ð Reach families, community groups, and local news pages. Best for longer posts and photo albums. Tag your legislators Ñ their pages are public.
X (Twitter) Ð Ideal for quick reactions to legislative news. Tag @TNSenate, @TNHouseGOP, or your specific legislator. Hashtags like #TNLeg connect you to the statewide conversation.

Slide 25: 

Engaging the Media: Social Media & Reaching Thousands Right From Your Phone
Instagram Ð Photo + caption format is perfect for personal stories. A strong photo with 3Ð5 sentences can reach far beyond your followers through shares and hashtags.
TikTokÐ Short personal videos are among the most shareable content online. You don't need production value Ñ authenticity is the point.

Slide 26:

Social Media & Reaching Thousands Right From Your Phone: What Actually Works
DoÕs & DonÕts

Slide 27: 

DOÕs Ð
Start with a human moment, not a statistic
Use a photo Ñ every time you can
Be specific: names, places, dates
End with a clear call to action
Tag your legislators' official accounts
Use 2Ð3 relevant hashtags (#TNLeg, #DisabilityRights)
Share in relevant groups and communities

Slide 28: 

DONÕTs Ð
Open with jargon or acronyms
Posts with no image or explanation 
Vague statements without a concrete ask
Only posting once and moving on
Long paragraphs Ñ break them up
Arguing in comments Ñ redirect to private message

Slide 29: 

Build Your Action Plan:
This Week - Write down your story in 3Ð5 sentences. Find your legislators at capitol.tn.gov.
This Month - Request one in-person or virtual meeting. Write one letter to the editor.
This Quarter - Follow up with a photo and handwritten note. Connect with 1Ð2 other advocates.
Ongoing - Stay connected on social. Share published pieces. Engage during legislative session.

Slide 30: 

Your Story Is Not Finished. Neither is the work.
Capitol.tn.gov Ð Find your legislators and their committees.
TNDisability.orgÐ Find resources, policy updates, and advocacy tools.
Familyvoicestn.org Ð Family Voices of Tennessee programs and support
revuptn.org Ñ Civic engagement and voter registration for people with disabilities

Slide 31: 

Above all, remember:
Small, consistent connections build the relationships that change policy.

Slide 32:

Thank you!