How to Contact and Meet With Your Local Elected Officials

Calling or meeting with an elected official can sound intimidating. Like… don’t they only talk to “important” people? Reality is: you are one of the most important voices they can hear from!

Your elected officials are there to serve everyone in their community — not just the people who voted for them. As someone who lives in that community, you’re part of the group they represent. Listening to you is LITERALLY their job. And when you show up, speak up, and share what matters to you, that’s democracy in action.

Whether you care about climate change, education, safety, or something happening right in your neighborhood, here’s how to take that first step.

Thinking about big issues can feel overwhelming. Climate change, inequality, public health — no one expects you to solve everything on your own. Small actions, done together, matter more than you think. Think quality, not quantity

The best place to start? With something you really care about. Identify one issue you’re passionate about changing. When it’s personal, it’s easier to stay committed and take that first step. 

Some easy ways to begin:

• Talk about the issue with friends and family
• Attend a local town hall or community meeting
• Write or call a local representative or community leader
• Start a club or group at your school around the issue

Taking one small step builds confidence for the next one.

Now before you start looking up ways to get to Washington DC or looking up the number for the White House, start in your own backyard (figuratively). You have more elected officials in your area than you might realize. Depending on where you live, you may have:

• City or town council members
• A mayor or town supervisor
• County commissioners
• State representatives or senators

A quick web search or online database can help you figure out who represents you and how to contact them. If you’re not sure where to start, that’s okay — figuring this part out is already a win.

Once you know who your representative is, there are a few different ways you can get in touch:

• Write an email or letter
• Call their office
• Use a template to help organize your thoughts
• Attend a public town hall or meeting, and identify people who you might want to meet with afterward

You don’t need perfect wording or expert-level knowledge. Be clear about what you care about, why it matters to you, and what you’d like to see change.

Action item: Start where you’re comfortable. If calling or speaking up in public feels scary, start by writing. Use a template to share your thoughts with a local leader and make sure your message lands on their desk.

Feeling ready to level up? You can request an in-person (or virtual) meeting with a local leader. This is a powerful way to advocate for change.

Before the meeting:

• Pick one specific issue that matters in your community
• Learn a little about how it shows up locally
• Write down what you’d like to ask for or change

You don’t have to do it alone. Bring a friend, a group from school, or other people in your community who care about the same thing. There’s real power in numbers - showing up together amplifies your voice.

Action item: Call your local representative’s office and ask for a meeting. Let them know what issue you’d like to discuss, and come prepared with a few clear points.

When you meet, come prepared with your talking points. Not sure what to say? Here’s an example for what your talking points might explain:

• Who you are and where you live
• The issue you care about
• Why the issue matters to you and your community
• What you’re asking them to do, or what you need help doing
• What questions you have

Ok, so, real story. There’s a park in Brooklyn, New York City named after DoSomething staff member Christopher De La Roa’s grand uncle, the Jaime Campiz Playground. Christopher noticed it had been neglected. He visited and made a list of all the things that needed attention to make it a great place to be.

Then, he found out who his local District council members were, and got in touch. It wasn’t hard. He sent an e-mail introducing himself, explaining why he wanted to meet and what he wanted to meet about. The Councilor agreed! Before meeting, he identified what he wanted to achieve from the meeting.

When they met, he walked the checklist he’d made beforehand. He also learned more about how they could ensure future city budgets could support the park. Then, they moved on to discuss equity and access to green spaces, and the health issues created by a nearby highway. Finally, the Councilor shared about how they also enjoy the park with family members and friends, which was a great connection point for the future.

Showing up once is great. Showing up again is how change really happens. And who knows — today you’re calling your city council member. Tomorrow, you could be running for office yourself. (Literally, teenagers are already doing it!)

You don’t have to be an expert to lead. You just have to start.