‘Compassion Drives Advocacy’: How One United Way Volunteer Advocacy Leader Got His Start

The next few months are a critical time for advocacy in North Texas, as we approach the November election and prepare for next year’s legislative session. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re encouraging every individual and community organization to speak up in support of policies and candidates that will benefit our region. 

Earlier this year, members of our team, along with local advocates, attended what could be called the Super Bowl of advocacy: United Way Worldwide 2024 Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day, held in Washington, D.C. This unique event is an opportunity to advocate for our organization’s legislative priorities in our focus areas of education, income and health. 

In this post, we look back at a successful Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day and hear from one of our local advocates who headed to D.C. with us to speak up for our community. 

We Traveled to D.C. to Fight for North Texas 

United Way continues its work in bringing people together to build strong, equitable communities where everyone can thrive. In July, our annual Advocacy Forum and Hill Day included more than 150 United Way network members who came together to engage with hundreds of U.S. House and Senate offices and advocate for health, education and financial stability.  

Our priorities during this whirlwind trip included:  

• Calling for no cuts to the supplemental nutrition assistance program, or SNAP (which is a key part of the Farm Bill) 

• Enhancing the Child Tax Credit  

• Co-sponsoring the HELP Act to support the 211 social services referral line  

We’re especially grateful to the following congressional member offices from the Texas delegation for welcoming us as we work together to build thriving communities: 

• Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn 

• Office of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz 

• U.S. Congressman Colin Allred 

• U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett 

• U.S. Congressman Pat Fallon 

• U.S. Congressman Keith Self 

• U.S. Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne 

Hear From a First-Time Capitol Hill Day Advocate 

For the advocates who joined United Way at Capitol Hill Day, the event represented a unique opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers who are creating policy right here at home.  

To see what the experience is all about, check out our Q&A with James Brownson, a senior director at McKesson and a United Way advocate and volunteer leader, who has helpful advice for anyone who is new to advocacy but passionate about making their voice heard. 

United Way: Tell us a little bit about yourself.  

James Brownson: Howdy, I’m James A. Brownson, and I’m committed to living a life of service: doing the best for the most. I work for McKesson, a diversified healthcare services company, where I’m a senior leader whose team is responsible for the generic drug category for two-fifths of our nation’s hospitals. We care deeply about making a difference with our customers, improving their ability to serve their patients and advancing health outcomes for all.   

United Way: How did you get involved with our advocacy efforts?  

Brownson: I was humbled to be asked to join the United Way as a volunteer leader with its Advocacy Advisory Board. Here’s how it happened: I completed the Dallas Regional Chamber’s executive Leadership Dallas program for servant leaders this May. The intense nine-month curriculum positions class members to address the challenges and opportunities facing the region: improving the quality of life for all.  

One module was dedicated to public policy and hosted by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. I have the Leadership Dallas program to thank for the connection, and for the opportunity it gave me to leave a lasting impression with United Way leadership. Although my story is unique and perhaps complicated, one can simply connect to their local United Way chapter and volunteer! 

United Way: What motivated you to attend this year’s Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day?  

Brownson: I knew my volunteer leadership position would start in July, and the Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day was three weeks after. I’m a maximizer and do my best to make the most of every opportunity, and this was no different. Here’s my secret: I was preparing before I started, and I communicated my readiness to the United Way team. (Thank you, Hillary Evans!)  

I’ve cultivated my civic mindedness since entering the workforce. I’ve observed that changing policy is one of the most difficult—and one of the most effective—means of changing society for the better. Democracy is a conversation. I was honored to contribute to the conversation by visiting lawmakers in Washington, D.C. We connected them and their staff with relevant legislation aimed at improving education, economic opportunities and health resources for their constituents, all in a nonpartisan manner. 

United Way: Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get involved in advocacy and who may not have any background in meeting with lawmakers?  

Brownson: Absolutely! Think of it like a two-part equation. If you want to get involved with advocacy, it’s highly likely you deeply care about issues. If so, the good news is you have mastered the “unteachable” part of the equation; I believe compassion drives advocacy and compassion is “the willingness to see.”  

The second part of the equation, connecting advocacy to lawmakers, is based on relationships. I have the following advice on relationships: Prepare to be memorable by making personal connections to the lawmakers and staff, and draw from your experiences and the crossroads you share. Be concise and direct when telling the stories that link the legislation to compelling data, your experiences, the constituents’ needs, and the lawmakers and staff. Be pragmatic and drive home why it matters for all parties. Leave your contact information and any helpful “leave-behind” reference documents, and follow-up afterwards! Repetition is good politics.   

Advocate with Us 

Together with James and other dedicated advocates, we’re speaking up for policies that directly impact education, income and health in North Texas. By advocating for key priorities like SNAP, the Child Tax Credit and the 211 social services helpline, we can ensure the lawmakers who represent us understand how policy directly impacts people’s lives. 

As we approach the beginning of the 2025 Texas legislative session, we invite change-seekers like you to join our advocacy efforts. The more people we have speaking up with us, united, the greater the impact of our collective efforts. 

Here are three ways to get involved: 

1. Sign up for advocacy updates: Be sure you’re in the know about our ongoing advocacy efforts by signing up for our Advocacy Alerts and Policy in Brief newsletters. Sign up here. 
2. Join our public policy webinar series to learn more about our advocacy priorities: Next month, we’re hosting a special three-part public policy event: All Eyes on Austin. Our expert panels will guide participants through a broad-ranging discussion on the most pressing policy issues facing North Texans in education, health and income. Register here. 
3. Save the date for Advocacy Day at the Capitol: Join the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas delegation in Austin on Feb. 26 for Advocacy Day at the Capitol. We’ll share more information and registration details in our Advocacy Alerts and Policy in Brief newsletters.