Grassroots Advocates

The actions of the California Legislature have a great impact on the ability of CAOC members to serve their clients. In turn, legislators pay attention to their constituents, the people who can vote for them—and it is the duty of every voter to hold their legislators accountable. This is most effective when we pull together and make our voices heard regularly on important issues affecting California consumers and the civil justice system.  

To this end, CAOC members can become Grassroots Advocates, organizing locally on behalf of CAOC legislative issues. Becoming a Grassroots Advocate enables you to access the CAOC Grassroots Committee, a statewide support and skill-sharing network for grassroots organizers who work towards becoming legislative Key Contacts. Key Contacts are CAOC members with longstanding relationships with legislators, whom legislators know and trust to speak on behalf of Californian consumers.   

Through participation in the Grassroots Committee, CAOC members can both sharpen their skills or learn new skills for:

• Creating dynamic and trusting connections with legislators through relational organizing

• Navigating in-district and Sacramento-based meetings to discuss civil justice issues 

• Working with legislative staff  

• Problem-solving in challenging districts 

• Mentoring newer members for organizing best practices 

• Connecting across community / coalition organizations as a CAOC grassroots ambassadors  

• Making the most out of the annual CAOC member Sacramento lobbying day, Justice Day 

In addition to ongoing relational organizing, there will be times that CAOC legislative Key Contacts will reach out to educate legislators on CAOC bills, to advocate for why these bills are important for all Californians.  

Whether a seasoned Key Contact or a new Grassroots Advocate, no CAOC grassroots organizer is ever going alone: at each step of organizing, in addition to peer support from fellow CAOC grassroots organizers, CAOC members will be guided by Grassroots Manager Natalie Robertson and the team of CAOC Advocates with the information they need to be effective.  

By serving as a Grassroots Advocate, you provide a vital service to your colleagues and to your clients by supporting CAOC’s legislative program. Sign up to become a Grassroots Advocate by emailing Natalie at grassroots@caoc.org.  
 

CAOC members in a district meeting with Assemblymember Cristina Garcia.