A big hello to everyone checking out our blog!  My name is Melissa Smicker and it’s my turn to introduce myself as one of the JDRF Advocacy bloggers. 

I started working for the JDRF Government Relations office in January 2009 as the Grassroots Outreach Manager.  This wasn’t just a new job for me, but also a new city, and now I was focused on federal, rather than state, issues.  I was excited about these changes, but what made it even better was when I shared the news with my cousin.  Her daughter, Amber, was diagnosed with type 1 a few years back and JDRF means so much to them.  She is so proud to tell everyone where I work and how JDRF is helping Amber.  Now that I’ve been at JDRF for a year and a half, I have even more connections to type 1.  I am so lucky for the opportunity to work with these volunteers on a daily basis. 

As the Grassroots Outreach Manager, I work with Mike, Hasan and Amanda, who you’ve already met on our blog.  As a member of the Grassroots team, my main responsibility is ensuring that our advocacy network continues to grow each year.  (If you aren’t signed up as a JDRF advocate, you can sign up by clicking here.)  We want to make sure that we have as many people as possible advocating for type 1 issues to their legislators.  It’s pretty simple, the more people speaking up about type 1 issues, the more we are heard!  I cannot grow our advocacy team alone, so I provide support to our volunteer leaders to make sure they have the training and resources they need to reach new advocates in their chapter region.  This usually involves lots of advocacy efforts at the walks and other chapter events, but also includes some online programs such as Spread the Word.  You’ll also be hearing a lot from me in the next few weeks about our “Type 1 Talk” program on World Diabetes Day, 11/14. Stay tuned!

If you have questions about becoming an advocate, helping sign up advocates at your chapter events, or any general comments, please drop a note below.