Lobby Day is a cornerstone of LeadingAge’s national advocacy. It’s our chance to team up with our state association partners and hundreds of members to flood the halls of Capitol Hill—and it’s maybe my favorite event of the year. 

This year’s Lobby Day is right around the corner and I hope you’ll join us on this day packed with meetings with federal representatives and their staff. This single event delivers so much impact that we’ve devoted all of Wednesday at the 2024 LeadingAge Leadership Summit to this federal advocacy effort.

Representing your organization, the people you serve, and your fellow LeadingAge members in front of policymakers and their staff is an incredible opportunity. I guarantee that you’ll head back home Wednesday night feeling inspired. 

But this is way more than a feel-good moment. Lobby Day delivers two distinct, long-lasting benefits for our sector: 

The first is connection. When your elected officials understand more about how older adults are served back home—whether it’s from a story about a resident or an in-person account of challenges faced by providers in their organization—their perspective is changed. That connection matters. It’s how we break through, and it’s what informs the decisions they make.    

The second is understanding. Only LeadingAge members can explain first-hand the breadth of the aging services sector and its impact on Americans from all walks of life. Nearly all of us will require help from one, or several, types of aging services providers across the continuum as we age. The offices we visit have a unique opportunity to learn how those services are delivered, how they connect, and how challenges like workforce and funding intersect.

Without the vivid detail you bring to important issues with your boots-on-the-ground stories and experiences, our policymakers can’t possibly understand how their decisions and support impact the lives of millions every day. Last year, LeadingAge members showed up in full force—225 members representing 32 states and the District of Columbia held 60+ meetings with Senate offices and 90+ with House offices. I’m excited to see even more of you on the HIll this year. Register for Leadership Summit and say “yes” to Lobby Day!