Advocacy: Speak Up for Community, Values, and Yourselves

Given the upcoming elections in November, we are seeing and hearing a lot of media urging us to “speak truth to power” and “make your voice heard.” These are powerful and important messages. Sometimes, though, I’m reminded that there are many opportunities to advocate for ourselves and our communities that we encounter on a daily basis, in addition to exercising our right to vote.

Advocacy is defined as “the act of supporting a cause or group of people or of influencing decisions in social, economic, or political institutions. It can also mean helping people express their views and stand up for their rights.”

How does this translate to our own lives? There are many ways to be an advocate, some big and some small. But they all count.

The Advisory Council for Aging and Disability Services has an Advocacy Committee that develops a legislative agenda to weigh in on local, state, and federal issues related to older adults and people with disabilities. For example, the Advisory Council has been very supportive of the statewide Property Tax Exemption for older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities (see this report in this month’s edition), which will help more people to afford to age in their homes. This is an example of public advocacy that works on macro issues that affect our larger community.

But there are also other important forms of advocacy.

How many times have you been in a doctor’s office and had to get up the courage to ask more questions about a medical issue or request a clearer explanation of some procedure for yourself or someone you are accompanying? This is personal advocacy, which empowers us to feel more in control of our healthcare decisions and choices. 

Have you heard someone use a microaggression (a comment or action that subtly expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group) or a pejorative term for a person or a group? Did you remain silent? It is sometimes easier to ignore than to confront these offenses. But particularly for me — a white woman of privilege — it is important to have the courage to speak up to explain how these words perpetuate stereotypes and the historical trauma that has harmed underrepresented people for many, many years. This is advocacy based on having values that seek to protect human rights and dignity.

So, during this election season of making informed choices as you fill out your ballot, keep in mind that there is always a place for advocacy whether it is public, personal, or values-based.  We don’t have to wait for an election year to be an advocate!

Every advocacy action can make a difference.

Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via e-mail (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).

Mark Your Calendars

Following are upcoming events of interest to ADS Advisory Council members:

• International Day of Older Persons: Tuesday, October 1. The United Nations General Assembly has designated Oct. 1 as the International Day of Older Persons, a day to recognize the contributions of older persons and to examine issues that affect their lives. Learn more at the UN website.
• NW Universal Design Council: Tuesday, October 8 (2–3 p.m.); online. To receive the meeting link, e-mail agefriendly@seattle.gov in advance.
• ADS Advisory Council: Friday, October 11 (noon–2 p.m.); online. To receive the meeting link, e-mail aginginfo@seattle.gov in advance.
• Indigenous People’s Day: Monday, October 14. Both ADS offices will be closed this day.
• Washington State Senior Lobby Conference: Thursday, October 17 (9 a.m.–4 p.m.). Open to policymakers; civic leaders; state, county, and city employees; aging network advocates; and service providers. Register (fee $40 per person) by Oct. 10 if you want to join this virtual event.
• Mayor’s Council on African American Elders: Friday, October 18 (2–3:30 p.m.) at Grace United Methodist Church (722 30th Ave. S., Seattle, 98144). Parking is available. Agendas will be sent via e-mail. Meetings are hybrid. Contact Eldad.Mekuria@seattle.gov for the Zoom link or more information.
• Age Friendly Seattle Civic Coffee: Health Planning: Thursday, October 24 (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) at Neighborhood House High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW, Seattle, 98126). This month’s event focuses on health planning. Unable to attend in person? You have an option to join online.
• 2024 Legacy of Love African American Caregivers Forum: Saturday, November 2 (10 a.m.–3 p.m.) at the Northwest African American Museum (2300 S Massachusetts St, Seattle). First presented in November 2017 as part of National Family Caregivers Month, this unique, culturally-focused event draws family caregivers from throughout the Pacific Northwest. For more information, contact Eldad Mekuria at Eldad.Mekuria@seattle.gov.