When you call… Julie answers!

One of the things I do that most people never see is advocacy work behind the scenes. A big part of my work involves connecting real housing providers to the local policy process so the people who actually provide housing are included in the conversations that shape our cities.

Because of my leadership role with AOA, I often get calls from other organizations that are trying to respond to what is happening at the city level and figure out the right way to engage.

For example, the Burbank Fair Housing PAC, a political action committee made up of local landlords and housing providers, reached out to me when they began exploring a potential ballot measure in the City of Burbank. When something like that comes up, it is not as simple as filling out a form and getting it on the ballot. It is a structured, expensive, and very detailed process.

It can require fundraising, bringing in attorneys and policy experts to draft the language, preparing petitions, collecting verified signatures from registered voters, and staying organized through every step until the measure is officially qualified.

My role is often to help coordinate those moving parts, connect people to the right resources, and make sure the conversation includes the voices of the residents and voters who will ultimately decide what happens in their city.