It’s not like I haven’t ever advocated at the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, before, but this year I was nervous.
This was the first time I went without Dan, my advocacy partner in crime. He unfortunately couldn’t get away from work to attend this year’s 12th Annual Older Michiganians Day. Sure, I had my caregiver Marcus with me and more than 1,000 older Michigan residents as well. We all met with our State Representative and Senators to get our voices heard about a variety of aging- and disability-related issues.
Going into it, I knew it was going to be just me, Jennifer. No Dan. I felt like peanut butter without jelly. Macaroni without cheese. Bert without Ernie. Abbott without Costello.
But adrenaline instantly overpowered anxiety the second I saw the State Capitol dome as Marcus and I turned the corner onto Capitol Avenue in Lansing. I realized then I was the furthest thing from alone.
This was the day I got to introduce and connect my two primary advocacy communities: Region VII Area Agency on Aging and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Dan and I historically have gone to Lansing twice each year to join each community on their respective advocacy event; however, our fellow MS activists were eager to attend the May 15 OMD as MS Action Day isn’t scheduled until this fall.
Many of the OMD and NMSS legislative issues – such as the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program and support for the Direct Care Workforce – often overlap, and when it comes to advocacy there truly is strength in numbers.
Here’s how we showed our strength on this day that empowered us all and got Dan and me that much more excited about MS Action Day this fall.
