OL304 - Advocacy Ambassador Program: Grassroots Ambassador Graduation - C4

Friday, April 24, 2026

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM CST

Location: Room 221 CD

Instructional Level: Fundamental

Lead Presenter(s)

JZ

Joanne Zurcher, MPP (she/her/hers)

Vice President of Government Relations and Policy
American Academy of Audiology

Disclosure(s): Financial - American Academy of Audiology: Employment (Terminated); Nonfinancial - No nonfinancial relationships to disclose

PDF Slides

Presenter(s)

MH

Melissa Heche, AuD

New York Speech and Hearing

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
TS

Tina Stern, AuD

Assistant Professor, Division of Audiology
University of Miami Ear Institute
Weston, Florida

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Abstract: This capstone session marks the completion of the four-part Ambassador Program and prepares participants to step into their role as official Advocacy Ambassadors. Attendees will learn practical strategies for planning and conducting successful grassroots meetings, communicating clear and compelling messages to policymakers, and leveraging the Political Action Committee (PAC) to advance audiology’s priorities. Through interactive discussion and real-world examples, participants will build the confidence and skills needed to drive impactful advocacy efforts and serve as strong representatives of the profession at both the state and federal levels. If participants attended all four sessions of this track, they will receive an official badge at the session’s end.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to demonstrate how to plan and conduct an effective grassroots meeting by preparing, structuring, and delivering key advocacy messages to policymakers.
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to recognize the importance of grassroots engagement and Political Action Committee (PAC) participation in advancing the Academy’s legislative and policy priorities.
Upon completion of this session, the participant will be able to describe how to apply skills honed during the program to the ongoing role as an official Academy Advocacy Ambassador.