A big part of bringing about change is letting the people who have power know what sorts of changes need to be made. However, because they do have power (which for many of us who have experienced violence is associated with the power to hurt), we may feel afraid to contact people who have power and/or we may philosophically not want to take part in that structure. These feelings are very real. However, power can be used to help others as much as it can be misused to hurt. One way to use it to help others is to share your own thoughts, experiences, and beliefs with your legislators. I say "YOUR legislators" because they are elected by your vote and thus you are their boss. For you to write to them and express your opinion is natural. This insight is the first step in how to write to your legislator. Know that you have the right.

      Another important thing to understand is that your legislator wants to hear from you. Any good employee is more than willing to hear from his or her boss. Legislators want to be elected again. For this reason, when you write to them let them know in what city you live or at least that you are a constituent of theirs. This can be as simple as writing your town under your signature.

      Good bosses are those who are polite to their employees. This being the case, we need to be polite to legislators. However, this doesn't mean we shouldn't be honest just because they might not agree with our opinion.

      One of the biggest issues before the state legislature this year is welfare reform. If you think that women (and of course from my perspective, especially battered women) and/or children might be hurt from specific legislation or you just want to let your legislator know to be careful not to hurt them, please don't hesitate to let them know even if not cutting welfare isn't popular in the political climate.

      Finally, good bosses give reasons for their beliefs. Tell your legislator WHY you believe something. Use your own experience as an example (legislators love to hear true stories from the survivors who experienced it). By being polite, being honest, and giving reasons, your letter will make more of a difference than any lobbyist can even dream of. You do have power and do make a difference.