The Power of Us: The Art and Science of Enlightened Citizen Engagement and Collective Action
How the US Government Works and How to Get It to Work for You
by
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Chapter 3 Believe Educating and familiarizing yourself with Washington and the federal process is not hard. The first time around, understanding what to do and where to go can be confusing and intimidating. Any American can be effective after studying their issue, securing directions and enlisting help from supporters and champions. Never be afraid to admit what you don’t know and ask for advice. That’s what we pay those who are elected to do – help. Power Line Good ideas don’t get a welcome party in Washington, and great ideas often are buried alive. Even so, don’t be discouraged. There are many who have made a mark. Those who make an impression, and eventually an impact, have some common characteristics and successfully connect the five steps that comprise the power line. It is through the use of the power line that ideas are transformed into federal policies that actually touch the lives of real people. Basically, the five (idea to policy power line) steps require you to: Discover -- Generate, imagine and unveil ideas that address the needs of individuals and communities Develop -- Take steps to bring an idea from latency to fulfillment or implementation Innovate -- Pursue a new approach (or an old approach with a new twist) to support idea development and implementation Aggregate -- Bring multiple players of like minds together around a common cause Sustain & Scale -- Maintain a viable presence and the ability to produce a desired effect for many people for many years
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About the Book
Anita Estell has done it! She has published an easy-to-read handbook that promises to transform our individual and collective understanding of the federal government, how it really works, and most important, our own relevance in its operation. The Power of US is a must-have guide. It provides instruction for those possessing the audacity to seize the opportunities unfolding during one of the most transformational periods in American history. Estell shares insights, experiences, wisdom, and expertise, gained in more than twenty years of working at the federal level, in a way that not only invites and supports constructive engagement but also sheds light on the way forward. Estell provides an extraordinary panorama of information and instruction, melding a multidisciplinary suite of principles that underscore and bring texture to what Estell calls citizen-centricity, or citizen-centric engagement. The Power of US provides a profoundly creative approach relevant to policymakers and advocates. Estell’s treatment is a breath of fresh air in civic discourse—which can be stifled by stale approaches and potentially toxic hyperpartisan dynamics. In The Power of US, Estell establishes herself as a revolutionary thinker exhibiting the vision, knowledge, and personal power to move the compass of individual hope in the direction of collective freedom.
About the Author
Anita Estell is considered a trailblazer and pioneer in the Washington, DC, government affairs community and has received awards and recognition for her work and contributions in this area. She is a noted Washington attorney, lobbyist, strategist, and equity shareholder of a national law firm. Anita has spent over two decades promoting the development of affordable and widely accessible citizen-centric advocacy approaches that expand awareness, seed opportunity, and drive measurable results. As a teenager, Anita studied freedom and learned about collective action. Advocacy and the use of public policy to strengthen communities have captured her attention and energy since then. Throughout her career, Anita has worked to broaden access to and engagement with the federal government. The Power of US is in part a translation of the most profound lessons she has learned. A beneficiary of the American promise, Anita grew up near the cornfields of Central Illinois and was raised by a divorced mother of seven, who as a child picked cotton in the Mississippi Delta. Anita has written numerous columns, owned and produced a radio show, and maintains a blog called The People’s Place (www.anitaestellblog.com). She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Columbia, where she also has been inducted into the Order of the Coif. Anita is a member of the Missouri Bar. She is active with several nonprofit organizations, and serves on the board of directors for the Congressional Management Foundation. Anita lives in Washington, DC, where her dog, Savannah, reminds her regularly that canines rule.