This past year, I had the privilege to participate in various advocacy efforts on behalf of the bleeding disorders community. The Hemophilia Council of California’s Fall Advocacy Days was one such occasion where I got to meet California lawmakers and staff at their district offices to share my story and highlight health policies affecting the community.
I had the opportunity to speak to Lizeth from the office of Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal. Lizeth and I had such a great conversation that we are still in contact and working on possible future collaborations.
I was very happy to witness one of our future leaders, Sophia Horta, showcase what she learned from her time in HCC’s Future Leaders Program. I joined Sophia and her mother in their Fall meetings with Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco and Senator Bob Archuleta. Assemblymember Pacheco was very impressed with Sophia and showed genuine interest in her story.
In Senator Archuleta’s office, we met with Karla, who had even done her own homework prior to our meeting.
Karla was so moved by our stories that she even convinced Senator Archuleta to make an appearance at the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California’s Unite Walk where he gave a great speech and promised to bring awareness of bleeding disorders issues to his colleagues in Sacramento.
Similar to my meeting with Lizeth, both representatives expressed desires to work with the bleeding disorders community in the future.
What struck me most at these Fall meetings was how attentive the legislators and staff were when listening to all the information we were giving them. There was an extra level of engagement at these meetings that I had not seen in previous advocacy events, either in the state capital or Washington D.C., because the people at these offices were able to focus on bleeding disorders issues without the distractions of a chaotic legislative environment. I am so grateful to have participated in these district office visits, and I am excited to continue to build on these relationships. Advocacy never sleeps!
