6. How to break through the noise to make the greatest impact with guest Eduardo Martinez

Blueprint for California Advocates

Trying to break through the noise at the California Capitol to get your issue front and center?

You're hustling. But why is your message is not resonating?

Today I talk with Eduardo Martinez, Legislative Director for the California Labor Federation, who shares his insight - based on years of experience as a legislative staffer - on how to ensure your message is not only received but resonates.

Eduardo most recently served as Chief of Staff to former Assemblymember and now Mayor of San Diego Todd Gloria.

At the beginning of 2021, Mr. Martinez left the Legislature to take a position in the "Third House" - Sacramento vernacular for the community of lobbyists and advocates who descend on the Capitol each year to promote and influence legislation.

Eduardo serves as Legislative Director for the California Labor Federation, an alliance of 1,200 affiliated unions from around the state, leading their efforts to pass laws that protect California’s families and strengthen workers’ rights.

Over ten months of each year, 120 legislators and their staff consider thousands of bill ideas with the potential to impact hundreds of diverse issue areas. Since no one person can digest thousands of pages of information, staff are responsible for vetting proposals, meeting with stakeholders, understanding the politics, and making recommendations. You can't overstate the critical role of legislative staff.

In this interview, we talk about:

- Transitioning into the Third House during the chaos of 2021 COVID

- Why advocates need to over-prepare, remain disciplined, and always lead with emotion

- How to condense your message into high impact "elevator pitches"

- How to create more opportunities for Labor and Advocacy groups to partner around common goals

Learn more about the important work of the California Labor Federation.

Want to organize your workplace into a union? Learn more.

Transcript of this episode.

Hosted by Kristina Bas Hamilton, founder of KBH Advocacy. Learn more about KBH Advocacy.

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