How To Be An Advocate

1. Speak Up!
Tell your lawmakers that lives can be saved by ending breast cancer, and that you expect them to do something about this. Your elected officials have the power to make legislative decisions about the funding of research to prevent breast cancer morbidity and mortality. Lawmakers listen when they hear from their constituents personally; your story has a powerful impact. Tell them why it is important to you that there is an end to this disease. Remind them that you vote.

 

“To be an advocate requires only the desire to speak up – whether it is survivor-to-survivor, in support groups, in the workplace, before state legislators, to Congress.  Advocacy can empower persons with cancer and can maximize the quality of their own survival as well as that of others.”
~E.J. Clark, E.L. Stovall. Advocacy: The Cornerstone of Cancer Survivorship. Cancer Practice, 4:239 (1996).

2. Connect with Your Lawmakers
  • Find out who your representatives are (see below).
  • Sign up for their email newsletter.
  • Follow them on Facebook and/or Twitter.
  • Attend their coffees and town hall meetings.
  • Find out where they stand on women’s health and breast cancer issues.
  • As a constituent and breast cancer survivor, send an email, snail mail or call and let them know your concerns about breast cancer research funding to find a cure, or about other issues important to you.
  • Sign up for MiBCC emails, so that you can respond to our calls to action to communicate with your legislator about pending legislation.
3. Who Are Your Elected Officials in Congress?

Elected officials represent all of their constituents. So your voice counts when it’s time for them to introduce or vote on a bill. You can make your voice heard by contacting your Representative and Senators! This is especially important when we want their support for bills to support breast cancer research funding that will accelerate an end to breast cancer. That’s advocacy in action! Be an advocate and contact your Representative and Senators! Tell them you support the work and mission of Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition!

To find out who your Congressional Representative is, click here then enter your ZIPCODE Click The Map To View Larger Image.

District map representatives Michigan

How to Contact Your Elected Officials in Congress Michigan’s 2 Senators:

  • Senator Debbie Stabenow       (202) 224-4822 – Website
  • Senator Gary Peters                 (202) 224-6221 – Website

Sign up for newsletters/alerts from your Senators/Representative by visiting their websites. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

4. Who Are Your Elected Officials in the Michigan State Legislature?
The Michigan State Legislature introduces and votes on legislation that affects access to and insurance coverage of medical care, and legislation that regulates exposure to environmental toxins, many of which have been linked to breast cancer. So your voice counts when it’s time for them to introduce or vote on a bill. You can make your voice heard by contacting your State Representative and State Senator.

 

How to Contact Your Michigan State Legislators in Lansing (House of Representatives & Senate).
Search by district or your address.

Find Your Michigan State Representative

Find Your Michigan State Senator

Debbie Stabenow
Dingell Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition

“It has become even more vital to me to advocate for better research, to change the conversation about what is done and how it is done.” ~ Maria Wetzel