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How to Advocate with Legislators
December 4 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Come learn the basics of legislative advocacy, with a focus on how you can make the biggest impact. Most of us have felt intimidated by legislators at some point in our advocacy journey. We’re here to give you the tools you need to feel empowered and make a difference! No experience is needed to attend this session. All are welcome!
Presenters: Aaron Dickson and Blake Duarte
Aaron Dickson
Aaron Dickson is the Executive Director of the Community Employment Alliance, a coalition of supported employment and Community Inclusion providers across the state of Washington that focuses on legislative advocacy in Olympia. He has experience as an Employment Consultant, Employment Specialist, and Program Manager at a supported employment agency in Bellingham (Cascade Connections), along with previous experience as a caregiver, as well as running a respite summer camp for adults for disabilities. He is passionate about including people with disabilities in advocacy work so that their voice is heard.
[Alt-text: A white man with short brown hair tied back in a bun, with a beard, and large black glasses is smiling and looking toward the camera. He is wearing a dark, long-sleeved sweater and a black earring in his left ear. The background is a mix of light and dark walls.]
Blake Duarte
Blake Duarte is the Accessibility and Inclusion Liaison at Morningside, a supported employment provider in Western Washington. He has worked for other nonprofit organizations where he successfully advocated for new sidewalk infrastructure, organized historical records, and created trainings for people with disabilities. Blake has a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Washington Tacoma and is currently working on his Master of Sustainable Transportation from the University of Washington.
[Alt-text: A white and Native American man with short brown hair and a goatee is smiling and is looking towards the camera. He is wearing a dark gray, short sleeve shirt and gray glasses. The background is a textured peach-colored wall.]