Emily Ellsworth is on hiatusVerified account

As always, please be kind but firm with those staffers. They will listen and talk to you. I always, always did.

If you run an advocacy group, invite local staffers to show up to your events. Let them talk to people you work with and set up meetings.

I loved getting out of my office and meeting with advocates in immigration, healthcare, education, science, and every type of work.

Invite staffers on "field trips" and show them what it's like in your communities. Show them the work you are doing. It works.

Are you noticing a pattern here? The staff are the ones who run the ground game for Congress. Work on helping them understand and learn.

Because, if the staff knows you, when they have a question about a piece of legislation or amendment, they will be the one you call.

And, that's the best I've got for you now. I hope it helps. Use your resources the best way you can and get their attention.

I've been called out a few times for my suggestions being ableist, and I'm listening to that feedback, but I have suggestions.

Sending a personal letter to your congressman's state office is absolutely effective. If you can't call on the phone, try to do that.

Also, if you can get involved in local advocacy groups that have people who can do the in-person meetings or phone calls, that's good too.

But, ultimately, no matter what you do, if you communicate with your member of congress at all, you are ahead of most people.

Another FAQ: how do I know if my representative is having a town hall meeting? Sign up for their email list and you'll get notifications.

So quaint that you actually held town halls. I can recall one from my congressional rep.

That's true! One of my bosses didn't hold them in his most urban area, only in rural areas.

How do find out about the town halls?

how do we know when the town halls are?

sign up for your reps email list! It's on their official websites, which you can find with a quick search.