The Go-To

Last week, I kicked off a series featuring women in advocacy. Anne Thompson brought her insights in the realm of managing a national Political Action Committee, and I hope you enjoyed hearing from one of the real go-getters in this field.

But, this week, I want to share a little bit with you about the Go-To. A poorly kept secret about most political teams is that they have a short list of volunteers, activists and community leaders they can count on in a pinch. In a sprawling congressional district, they may have multiple per county or community. Regardless of depth, every political operation is dependent on this bench.

In my own work, I knew I could count on several folks to answer the phone when I called – most of whom were all but guaranteed to take action. But, even in this crew there were still those who stood out. And at the risk of inadvertently alienating others, I’m going to tell you about one of those remarkable volunteers this week. She is by no means the only go-to I’ve worked with – but she is a dear friend who has taught me a lot about local politics, and I think she deserves some thanks.

I first met April Gibson during the 2012 election cycle, shortly after congressional re-districting happened in Ohio. My boss at the time was running for election in the new boundaries which nearly doubled the size of the previous congressional district. It became immediately apparent in that election cycle that we would need key leaders across the new district lines to help us grow name recognition and identify key campaign targets.

Overnight, April became a go-to for me and our whole team. How did she become so intertwined with our efforts? She gave without asking.

Let’s lay out what that means in practical terms:

– She identified key groups of influential local voters and community influencers we should prioritize engaging.

– She organized opportunities for our team to participate in existing events, maximizing visibility without creating additional work.

– She showed up. Every. Time.

– She offered local insights in a constructive way that built trust.

– She actively looked for alignment between the candidate’s goals and her own, finding ways to work on multiple issues while placing her limited asks strategically.

As a young, green staffer April quickly became a sounding board on any issue under the sun. She became a gut check on my assumptions, and helped reframe my approach to coalition building. In military terminology, she had my six – watching my blindspots to ensure we presented the candidate effectively and avoided committing a faux pas that can hurt a candidate in unfamiliar territory.

In the years since we worked directly together on campaigns, April and I have continued to stay in touch. She continues to work diligently on the causes that drive her. She continues to motivate those around her. She continues to mentor.

The Go-To’s, as you’ll see in your own work, have developed a habitual approach to advocacy work. It’s not a novel hobby they take part in every election cycle. Rather, they commit to relationship building and just causes that motivate them year round. It’s rarely glamorous work, but it moves the needle on a generational scale – and it takes habit building. And more often than not, you don’t have to ask them to be building these habits.

As you continue to grow your volunteer advocate network, get yourself an April. Look for the following:

– Who shows up?

– Who is already taking action that overlaps with your organizational goals?

– Who is in the habit of building connections between groups?

If you can find those three in one person, abundantly, I’ll bet you’re well on your way to establishing your own Go-To.

As for me, I’m forever grateful to the volunteers who worked so hard alongside our team. To all of them, and especially my dear friend April, thank you. Your friendship, and the lessons you taught along the way, made all the difference.