Every year, masses representing various industries, organizations, countries and cities descend upon the Halls of Congress to advocate for issues near and dear to their hearts. The fact everyday citizens can partake in our political process and make an impact is inspiring. But it requires participation.
This year, the Capital Region stepped up and demonstrated their understanding that advocacy necessitates engagement and good old fashioned shoe leather. For the first time in the 46 years of the Metro Chamber’s Capitol-to-Capitol program (Cap-to-Cap) we’ve sold out weeks ahead of our departure. At the end of this month, 350 business and community leaders, representatives from non-profits and elected officials, from across the six-county Capital Region, will travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for our region.
With a new Administration and the natural change-over of staff, we have an opportunity this year to introduce the Capital Region to a new crop of leaders in D.C. Through nearly 200 meetings with Administration, Congressional, agency and non-governmental organizations, we will inform, offer to be a resource, and make clear reasonable asks to advance the region.
What makes our efforts unique is that we erase jurisdictional lines and industry competiveness and work collaboratively to create policy positions that are in the best interest of our region at-large – not just one community or one company. By working together to identify tangible deliverables and asks, Cap-to-Cap puts our region first and ensures the future we will deliver for generations to come is bright.
Cap-to-Cap is just one part of the Metro Chamber’s ongoing advocacy efforts to support the growth of our business community. If you can’t join us this year, follow our efforts via #CaptoCap17 and stay tuned for updates from the road, explore one of the Chamber’s ongoing policy committees or plan on attending Study Mission, State Legislative Summit or Cap-to-Cap next year. Showing up to ensure the voice of the region is heard is crucial to our collective success. That does not happen without participation. Your voice is imperative. I am thrilled to serve as Chair of the program this year and look forward to sharing our successes with you.
Source: Comstock’s Magazine (April 2017)