Bring your issue with you and join us for a weekend building your knowledge and advocacy powers at our “Issues-Based Advocacy Training.”

Passionate individual or career professional, this event is for anyone interested in making change around a social issue. Come solo or as part of a group!

You will be mentored by seasoned leaders from national organizations with broad advocacy experience such as Sandy Hook Promise, More Perfect Union, and Education & Children’s Policy.

  • Sara Kloek: Sara is the Software & Information Industry Association’s (SIIA) vice president of education and children’s policy focusing on a broad range of issues including education funding, student and children’s privacy, and technology policy. She is an enthusiastic advocate for education technology, clear privacy policies, and bees.
  • James Haggar: James is an organizer, a fairly doting father of two rambunctious kiddos, a partner to a spouse who is smarter than him, and a long-time campaign, labor, and progressive operative. James currently helps lead the work of Our Future Starts at Home, a campaign to create dedicated funding for housing in Minnesota.
  • Lucinda Ware: Lucinda is based in Baltimore, and currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Wes Moore. Lucinda has had a long career in electoral politics and public service in Maryland, and has worked on national campaigns for Pete Buttigieg and Senator Klobuchar, and as a media consultant. She joined Governor Moore’s campaign in 2021, and served as a senior advisor. Lucinda is a partner in the consulting firm M State Partners, and a Maryland native.
  • Andy Barr: In 2013, Andy founded STET Communications, where he continues to work with a wide variety of clients on an even wider variety of projects: keynote speeches, commencement addresses, op-eds, journal articles, fundraising materials, internal communications, and even the occasional roast. He has also partnered with clients on five New York Times best-sellers, including three that debuted at #1.
  • Paula Fynboh: Paula has extensive nonprofit leadership, grassroots organizing and advocacy, and equity and social justice experience at the local, national, and international levels. Paula currently serves as the CEO at Aspire Afterschool Learning and is leading Aspire’s next three-year strategic plan, already resulting in record student enrollment across Aspire’s program locations and right-sizing Aspire’s staffing model.
  • Lauren Wetzsteon: Lauren is a trusted counselor, leader, and strategist with a diverse portfolio of experience in partnerships, advocacy, program management, and communications. Lauren’s work today is grounded by her experience in advocacy, political campaigns and legislative affairs. She has held various communications roles on political campaigns, with a focus on policy, fundraising and endorsement communications.