I have been the Community Engagement Director at Arkansas Advocates for almost eight years. More and more I have been hearing a sense of helplessness and hopelessness from Arkansans when it comes to advocating for policies and laws that will help children and families thrive. I get it. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your voice doesn’t matter and to be overwhelmed by the many harmful policies that have passed or are being proposed. These are legitimate feelings. But for me, what keeps me going are the glimmers of hope I continue to see every day. 

Over the past couple of weeks, two major policy victories passed at the state Capitol. Policies that were the result of years of advocacy by dedicated individuals around the state. A few years ago, Arkansas Advocates learned about an avoidable tragedy. A pregnant woman in Northwest Arkansas had died while she was waiting for her Medicaid application to be processed and could not afford medical care. We had already started advocating for a policy called “presumptive eligibility” for pregnant Arkansans. Presumptive eligibility allows pregnant women to access Medicaid services – in this case critical prenatal care – without having to wait for their application to be fully processed. The tragic death of the woman strengthened our resolve to push for the policy. Many other proponents of maternal health advocated for presumptive eligibility at the Capitol as well, sharing their personal insights into how life changing (and life preserving) the policy would be. Last week, Governor Sanders signed into law the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, which will change multiple policies relating to pregnancy and postpartum care — including requiring the Arkansas Medicaid Program to implement presumptive eligibility! Establishing presumptive eligibility in Arkansas had failed two previous sessions in a row to get it passed. But we and others kept sounding the alarm, and our determination paid off. 

Act 123 is another exciting new law that provides school breakfast for all students in public schools — the result of years of advocacy from food security advocates. Proof again that persistence pays off, even while faced with numerous losses in other areas. You can read more about why Act 123 is a big win for kids in this AACF blog. But it’s not just policy wins that give me the motivation to continue to advocate, even when I feel like I am being hit by wave after wave of harmful new laws and regulations. I am lucky that my job is to connect with wonderful advocates across the state who are dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families in Arkansas: a nonprofit in leader in Russellville who works to ensure women with substance use disorders can get the treatment they need while caring for their children; a Gen Z’er who teaches students about the legislative process and how they can take part; a retired early childhood educator in the Delta who provides children with books on Black history; a little girl in Little Rock who spoke in the Capitol rotunda about policies that are important to her. The list of caring Arkansans goes on and on. Even though I am tired, and I know I am often fighting an uphill battle, I also know who I am fighting for. And that keeps me going. 

It is ok to take a break, to step back, and focus on your well-being. It is sometimes very necessary. But if you’re looking for a “why” to keep yourself going, look around you and don’t forget to look in the mirror as well.