WAND/WiLL Members Raise their Voices in Washington, DC

By Ellen Freedman (DC intern)

On September 20, community activists and legislators attending WAND/WiLL’s national conference, “Women at the Table of Power,” participated in a full day of lobby meetings on Capitol Hill. Our attendees visited over 120 congressional offices and met with staff and members of Congress from 34 states. The conference program leading up to the lobby day provided attendees with the tools to effectively communicate budget priorities, nuclear weapons issues, and requests regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Truman National Security Project and ReThink Media conducted messaging and communication trainings in order to prepare our members to take on WAND’s issues and advocate for change!

WAND/WiLL Minnesota delegation with Senator Al Franken (D-MN)

During the lobby day, WAND/WiLL hosted a Congressional Luncheon in the Rayburn House Office Building for conference members to stop by, take a break, and hear inspiring speeches by Lily Eskelson, Vice President of the National Education Association, and Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. Their words offered motivation to the participants continuing on with the afternoon schedule of meetings.

While meeting with members of Congress, we asked their support in reallocating excessive military spending, supporting full funding for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative program, and building a sustainable peace in Afghanistan by including women in the peace process. As indicated in the following quotes, many of our members reported productive meetings and pride in completing their first day of lobbying on the Hill! We are grateful for our WAND/WiLL members for taking the time to come to Washington, DC and speaking up for sensible budget priorities, peace and security.

It is such an honor to be a part of this powerful group of women!
- Emilia Kaiser, WAND Member (Georgia)

One of the proudest moments of my life was watching my teenage daughters converse with their congressional Representatives with grace and confidence about reprioritizing our values as a nation and redirecting excessive military spending towards unmet human needs. The WAND conference prepared them well. We will never forget this experience.
-Kelli Hunnicutt, WAND Member (North Carolina)

I feel so confident in speaking with my Congressmen. It is so important for my

reps in DC to know how I and the people I represent in KY feel about wasteful military spending.
-State Representative Joni Jenkins, WiLL Member (Kentucky)

WiLL/WAND’s work is vitally important as our country moves toward responsible positions. We make a difference because we are an informed critical mass of advocates and activists.
-The Honorable Becky Lourey, WiLL Member (Minnesota)

From left to right: Karla Vasquez (Sojourners Intern), Kathy Crandall Robinson (WAND Public Policy Director), State Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-WA), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Jessie Choi (Sojourners Intern)

For more information about the 2011 WAND/WiLL conference, click here.