Monday, April 23rd

Reception and Meet and Greet Social
6:30PM - 8:30PM
The Washington Home of Stewart R. Mott
122 Maryland Avenue NE
Washington DC 20002

Celebrating Advocacy!
EDC is proud to feature our new lobbyist Al Guida from Guide Consulting

Twice a year nearly 100 people come to Washington DC to talk with Members of Congress. Why is this simple act so important? Come meet Al and hear him talk about this very question. Together we celebrate his addition to our policy team and we also celebrate your advocacy which is what makes the EDC's work so successful.

Al Guida comes with over 25 years of experience in Washington DC advocating for mental health causes. Guida was instrumental in securing the passage of four amendments in both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee addressing topics like medical homes and the structure of insurance exchange health benefits. Additionally he was a member of a small lobby group that conceived and implemented a Capitol Hill legislative strategy that pressured the current Administration to issue federal regulations implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. Click here to read the Press Release on Al joining the EDC team

Tuesday, April 24th

Basic Training
8:00AM - 10:00AM

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Adams Room
3rd & A St SE, Washington DC 20003

Basic Training is required for all first-time advocates. You will learn what lobbying is, how to do it effectively, and the role of advocates in creating sound public policy. This is for first time advocates ONLY!

Message Training
10:00AM - 11:00AM

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Parish Hall
3rd & A St SE, Washington DC 20003

Message Training is REQUIRED for everyone joining us at EDC Lobby Day. We will review talking points for the day and our overall message with other EDC Lobby Day team members. A light breakfast will be served prior to Message Training.

EDC Congressional Briefing

12:00PM - 1:00 PM

HELP Committee Chambers

Senate Dirksen Office Building, Room 430

Washington, DC 20002

Lunch will be served during the congressional briefing.

The Faces of Eating Disorders: Will the Person with an Eating Disorder Please Stand Up

Think only young rich white women suffer from eating disorders? Think again. Eating disorders (including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified) do not discriminate. They cut across age, race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation and even political party. Anyone can suffer from an eating disorder. In fact some of your dearest friends probably do.

Join us at this briefing to hear from the many faces of eating disorders:
1) a biracial woman who suffered and recovered from her eating disorder.
2) an immigrant from Hong Kong who developed an eating disorder once she moved to the U.S.
3) a working class mom who had to take a job as a truck driver so her daughter could get insurance coverage
4) a treatment provider who specializes in working with men and boys who suffer from eating disorders

Speakers:

Rachel DeYoung Law Student at Georgetown University Recovered from an eating disorder  "Within Us an Invincible Courage: Eating Disorders Don’t Discriminate and Neither Should Recovery"

Sarah Yeung In recovery from an eating disorder "Being an Immigrant and Developing an Eating Disorder: Is this the American Dream?"

Ted Weltzin, MD FAED Medical Director of Eating Disorder Services the Eating Disorder Center, Rogers Memorial Hospital "The Invisible Gender: Males and Eating Disorders"

EDC Lobby Day
1:00PM - 5:00PM
U.S. Capitol Complex

At the U.S. Capitol, we will work in teams meeting with elected officials and their staff. No one will lobby alone. Lobby teams will arrive for each appointment, deliver a packet of materials, and talk about how Congress can help.

Optional Gathering
5:30PM - 7:30PM
Location TBD

Before returning home, please join us for an informal gathering to discuss the day's events and experiences.

Tools for Participants

U.S. Capitol: List of Prohibited & Allowed Items