The Benefits of Engagement

 

This talk described the experiences of the speaker in engaging a wide variety of

policy-makers from the left and right, industry and advocacy organizations across the

spectrum including many without clear ideological agendas on campaigns and legislation

including the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).

The talk touched upon the following observations:

 

Preconceptions: Preconceptions of organizations and various actors are often simplistic

and inflexible. The reality is often far more complex. Many actors/organizations cross

socio-political boundaries.

 

Broad engagement is almost always productive: Very few substantive accomplishments

can be made without coalition building. Engagement need not be an all or nothing

proposition, even limited engagement on specific projects can be useful. At worse

engagement creates a dialogue that allows one to anticipate questions/ issues, devise

answers/solutions and improve language use and message framing to the public and

policy makers alike. The earlier the engagement on a particular campaign/bill the more

productive it tends to be.

 

Uniting around a common goal: Broad based efforts must have a common goal, but they

need not (and rarely do) have the same reasons for supporting that goal.