Thrill-Seeking for Nerds (who want to change the world)

Lobbying is one of the most intense and effective advocacy actions! And it's no wonder- a face to face conversation with your member of Congress gives both parties the opportunity to be heard and understood, and speak in depth on their positions and room for compromise. There’s an idea many people have in their heads of a cartoonish, fancy-suited man with a briefcase sneaking around Capitol Hill and bribing politicians to represent his interest. I, too, think of that image with extreme distaste. Yes, there are paid lobbyists, but that’s not what I mean by a "lobby meeting" with volunteer constituents . “Lobbying” as a general concept gets its name from people who used to wait around in the lobby of the office building, hoping to snag a few minutes or even precious seconds of a lawmaker’s time to promote their cause. [A panorama taken while my family waited to meet with Senator Blunt. My mom appears three times in the shot, among the crowd waiting in the lobby.] These ...

Hey, teen advocates! Here's a really cool book you should get for your mom! [Book cover, depicting women linking arms in front of the Capitol. "What would you change about the world if you could?" and changyit.com are written above and below the book, respectively] This Women’s History Month, I’m proud to celebrate the most important woman in my life and how she has been a part of global history– my mom, Cynthia Changyit Levin , writing her debut book From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started! On International Women’s Day (March 8), her book was officially launched for the world to read. It’s a warm, funny, and inspirational guide to political advocacy specifically geared towards moms and their unique power. Experts and everyday advocates alike have written glowing endorsements already, but as Cynthia Changyit Levin’s eldest child, I feel uniquely qualified to say this is the perfect representation of her life’s work...