What NAWBO Advocacy Means for Your Business

Advocacy is a word that is often associated with specific causes or groups. But it is a broader concept that extends far beyond the familiar. Advocacy is about standing up for what you believe in, whether it's a personal cause or a collective effort. While the term might sometimes evoke images of protests or rallies, advocacy can take on many forms, from writing letters to legislators to simply having open and honest conversations with others.

NAWBO is committed to exploring the various ways we can advocate for members, their businesses, and their communities. After all, this is what NAWBO’s foundation was based on. Founded in 1975, a group of women business owners in Washington, D.C. started meeting to share information and build a professional community. In the early years, the group began sharing information about federal contracts and access to capital. In 1976, they incorporated as AWBO (Association of Women Business Owners) and later became NAWBO. In 1978, the first chapters were formed. In 1980, NAWBO national and local chapters attended the White House Conference on Small Businesses. In 1982, NAWBO held its first conference in Houston, Texas! As you can see, we were a driving force accomplishing much, even early on!

How Public Policy Shapes the Environment In Which Businesses Operate

As women business owners, we understand the importance of advocacy in shaping our professional landscape. Public Policy can influence everything from tax rates and regulations to infrastructure and workforce development. By staying informed and engaged, you can ensure that policies are working in your favor.

Public Policy Update Calls (formerly known as Advocacy 101)

Previously known as simply Advocacy 101, our NAWBO NEO zoom calls recently modified their title to Public Policy Update. This new name does not change our intention or impact, it just better defines our focus as a whole. If you’ve always wondered what goes on during these calls, read on to learn a bit about them.

These meetings and discussions are focused on what is going on with policy makers that affects our businesses. It is less about learning the advocacy process than it is about what’s happening and the impacts it has on us as business owners.

The goal is to help convey accurate information and advocate for members with local and state politicians in a bi-partisan effort to meet the needs of women business owners, and educate the membership on the routes they can take with our policy makers to address concerns they have about their business. 

Our quarterly NAWBO NEO only zoom will help you learn what current legislation will affect your business and give you a platform to ask questions about legislation and politics you've heard about. You tell us what interests and concerns you, and we will find out what's going on and what we all can do about it!

From the Director of Advocacy 

“As Director of Advocacy, me and my team attend local legislative meet and greets and talk to policy makers about things on the NAWBO agenda. We are also sending out introductory letters to the politicians in our 12 county area and working on a local meet and greet for sometime in late February/Early March. We attend the monthly NAWBO national zoom calls as well, where we get updates on how NAWBO is advocating for us and how that is going.” 

It's about Policy, not Politics. We are committed to focusing on problem/solution thinking, so we don't get into the weeds of our current political environment.

~ Bridget Richard

Here's how we approach public policy:

• Bipartisan Advocacy: We work with policymakers from both sides of the aisle to find common ground and achieve positive outcomes.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: We rely on research and data to inform our policy positions and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Member Engagement: We encourage our members to participate in policy discussions and share their perspectives.

Get Involved

We recognize that as a woman business owner, you are juggling countless responsibilities. From managing your team to growing your revenue, the list seems endless. But did you know that understanding and engaging in public policy can significantly impact your business? So, why attend our quarterly Public Policy Update zoom call? To hear all the things we are doing, ask questions, give suggestions, and possibly get inspiration as to how to make their representatives work in their favor. 

Attending quarterly Public Policy Update zoom calls is a great way to stay informed and be involved. You'll have the opportunity to:

• Learn about current legislation that affects your business.
• Ask questions about policy issues that concern you.
• Share your ideas and suggestions for advocacy efforts.
• Connect with other women business owners who are passionate about public policy.

In addition to attending the zoom call, you can also get involved by:

• Contacting your elected officials: Let them know about the issues that are important to you and urge them to support policies that benefit women business owners.
• Joining a policy committee: NAWBO NEO offers various policy committees that focus on specific issues. Joining a committee is a great way to get more deeply involved in advocacy work.
• Supporting NAWBO's advocacy efforts: Consider making a donation to support NAWBO's public policy initiatives.

Ready to get started? Join us for our next Public Policy Update zoom call or keep your eyes out for breaking news on legislation that affects your business situation in our NAWBO NEO Facebook Success Group. We invite you to join the conversation!

NAWBO NEO's Quarterly Public Policy Update is here to help you navigate the complex world of legislation and politics. Our goal is to empower you with accurate information and provide a platform to advocate for your interests. We hope to see you soon!