The palm sweat is starting to happen. Several times a day this week I have been getting prep e-mails about the Anti-Hunger policy conference in Washington DC this weekend. I see the e-mail and I feel a zing of pride and then total OMG. This is not going to be a blogging conference. This isn’t going to be a “let’s squeal and hug over recognizing each other from our twitter avatars” conference. This is a different building. I know this because at the end of every e-mail there is a reminder that attendees should dress accordingly for the conference. Business casual for the sessions and professionally attired for the meetings with congressional members and staff.
I am going to go out on a limb and guess that neither of those will allow for plaid boots.
What I keep reminding myself (to keep the balloon of panic from soaring into the ceiling fan) is that I am NOT a policy maker, I am not a politician, I am not attending this conference because it is my job. I am going because I have a story to tell and I think I can help other agencies learn about the amazing power of telling our personal truths on-line.
I was recently on a pre-conference conference call with the other attendees of my panel and I felt so quiet. I won’t be presenting a power point, I won’t have a graph. I just have what I learned and how I think things can get better.
That I am attending something so large without knowing a single other attendee is fluttery. Obviously I am outgoing, but I am much more calm (who isn’t?) when entering into a new situation with a friend or familiar. I’m trying to turn this into a teachable metaphor for me- a reminder. That night I filled out my application for assistance in Florida – I was alone. I had no idea what I was doing, if I would get help. It was a hard and complicated process. Repeating that process in two other states was also daunting. Wouldn’t it be amazing if I could help make that process smoother for someone else?
TOUGH IT UP, DRESDEN!
(but, seriously…wouldn’t it awesome if CJ Craig was there to hang with?)
Here is a description of my panel (it’s Monday morning so I will thankfully have Sunday sessions to ease into things):
The Missing Voice: Effective Strategies to Engage and Mobilize Clients in Advocacy
No social movement has succeeded without the participation and voice of those directly and personally impacted. Join us for this conversational session to learn about how to empower, organize, and mobilize our clients—the largely “missing voice” from anti-hunger advocacy. The panel will feature a storytelling expert, a client organizer, and a client advocate and will engage the audience in a discussion on how to sensitively engage, empower, and mobilize clients in advocacy.
{if you want to follow the conference on twitter the hashtag is: #hungerpc2012 }
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that what you’re doing is both awesome and inspiring. You’re right–plaid boots don’t usually fall into the business casual/business professional category (although they should!). Perhaps some plaid underthings would put you more at ease?
And CJ rocks–all 6 feet of her!
Dude, Dooce wore purple tights to meet the POTUS. Surely plaid boots will fly at some portion of those meetings.
Are you the storytelling expert? The client advocate?
Some unsolicited advice for unfamiliar conferences — scan the program ahead of time, and then jot down the names of a few folks whose talks you are particularly interested in.
Then if you see their name-tag at the coffee urn, you can introduce yourself and say how much you are looking forward to their panel.
Enjoy!
So, I have been reading you for years from a personal interest perspective. Now you are overlapping with my professional world and here is my take: Your voice is critical to this panel. It is missing from the professional and academic conversations about hunger. And misunderstood by many in the powerful, decision making positions. Be confident that you have something valuable to add.
Amy
PS- I have been sharing the “In times like these” posts with my fellow food security researchers and they have been very interested, and surprised…
You are awesome and you will do great. Keep me on speed dial if you need to decompress.
Um, unsurprisingly, my father will be part of this event as well, and he still has a half written email to you in his draft folder. Thank you for adding your voice to this conversation. I know that you will be GREAT.
A woman whose daughter was in the same dance class as my daughter had these really awesome gray plaid shoes. They were very professional. Probably too late to track them down, but you can be on the lookout for future needs.
You will do a fantastic job – but mostly your job will be to relate your experience to the conversation. You’re the expert – don’t forget it!
Go Dres!
Oh knock them dead. What an amazing opportunity. WOW…
Plaid pumps! Or briefcase. Or hair clip. Or underpants.
Will there be video? Or a transcript of your speech?
You will do such a great job.
Congrats to you! You’ll do great!!! I don’t work on the Hill, but I do work for an agency of Congress. I’ll let you in on a little ‘secret’. Hill staffers bring their dogs to work. When we have meetings with Hill staffers, we get all gussied up and we’re usually dressed far more formally than they are! I do think that, fair or not, people are judged on their appearance and you don’t want people to be so distracted by appearance that they don’t HEAR what you have to say. BUT, really don’t worry. It’s not a corporate environment. Plus I’m guessing the people participating and attending a conference on hunger might just be a bit more understanding, accepting, etc. Be yourself and tell your story. I’m guessing the point of the panel you’re on is to put a real face on these issues, so I’d say it’s all the more important to be yourself. Good luck — can’t wait to read how it goes!!!
What a fabulous opportunity! Don’t worry, you’ll be great. : )
She did a GREAT job. I’m a new fan, and the workshop isn’t even over.
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