Building and maintaining relationships with public officials should be something you do year-round to tell your Y story, show your impact and help advance policies that strengthen communities.

Interaction with federal lawmakers back home is a key strategy for building relationships. In fact, a Congressional Management Foundation survey recently asked congressional staff the best way for members of Congress to gain an understanding of constituent views—“attending events in the district/state” was the top answer, with 98% of congressional staff noting its importance. These events paint a picture for the public official—bringing home for them the very real way in which Ys impact the community day in and day out.

Inviting public officials into your Y to engage with members and experience programs first hand, is one way tell your story. This toolkit provides ideas and resources to help you plan and execute a visit with a public official​​.