Alumnae Bulletin November 2008
Re-Engage - Black alumnae/i conference
Why lobby?
A rain-soaked walk from Wyndham brought conferees to
Carpenter Library, where Anita Estell, with deadpan humor
and serious passion, encouraged the audience to become
"community ninjas."
Estell, a former Clinton appointee and senior advisor in
the Department of Education, explained to alumnae/i how
and why lobbying is a critical component of any reach for
justice and social change.
"The power is with the people," she said, "but how do you
keep 300 million people engaged with 525 Congressmembers?
Through lobbyists."
Considered one of the top lobbyists in Washington, Estell
has lead efforts to secure billions of dollars for a host of
programs and organizations in support of diverse
communities across the nation, including Bennett College for
Women, the City of Compton and Spelman College.
"When I was on staff in the Clinton administration, I
saw all these people of color coming to ask the Feds for
money," she said, "and they really didn't know how to ask,
how to go about it. So I decided to enter the public sphere."
As a lobbyist, Estell represents her clients' interests by
interfacing with high-ranking White House officials,
members of Congress and their staff. She researches, drafts
and submits legislative/appropriations recommendations,
colloquis, white papers, testimony, and orchestrates contacts
among key politicians.
"It behooves all of us to learn how to manipulate and
massage public policy in ways that make us happier," she said.
Estell explained that, apart from the judiciary system,
there are at least two avenues available to everyone to shape
local law and policy: the Executive Branch and Congress.
"Focusing on Congress, policy is typically shaped through
authorizations and appropriations," she said. Key bills up for
authorization this cycle and next include economic stimulus,
infrastructure and public works, energy and green jobs,
HeadStart, workforce investment and No Child Left Behind.
But, according to Estell, in recent years appropriations bills
have served as the key vehicles to shape policy and steer
resources back home.
Prior to working with the Clinton Administration, Estell
served on the House Appropriations Committee, and her
portfolio included responsibility for more than $1 trillion in
federal programs.
"Appropriations is huge, and not an easy thing to learn,"
she said.
A lobbyist can serve as a vital bridge between constituent
concerns and their legislators, according to Estell, enabling
individuals and coalition groups to more effectively petition
their government and affect the appropriations outcomes.
"There are 32,000 lobbyists in D.C. Every industry has a
lobbyist in Washington. And we are a very diverse group."
Coalition-building and cooperation among diverse groups
will be key in the coming Democratic presidency and
subsequent funding for social programs, Estell believes. She
stressed to the alumnae/i that "American voters have to be
accountable for who they elect as leaders, and they have to
hold those leaders accountable.We give up way too much
control to government.
"You are all leaders in your communities," Estell said to the
audience. "You can't tell me you're not.Meet with your elected
officials. I would recommend that everyone in this room go
say ‘hi' to their senior district person."
— Robin Parks
