Fighting Back

Proposed funding cuts to the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) threatened to end care for thousands of low-income, uninsured women across the state. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) took action to defend the program with a statewide storytelling campaign to highlight the experiences of women who credited IBCCP with saving their lives. The campaign was instrumental in preserving funding for this program.

My involvement included:

- Vetting stories and coaching patients on speaking with the media and lawmakers
- Identifying media opportunities and pitching patient stories to reporters across the state
- Drafting press releases, op-eds, social media copy and letters to the editor
- Spearheading social media strategy and managing all content development
- Developing talking points for staff and volunteers and prepping them for interviews
- Staffing lobby day event at the State Capitol and hosting accompanying press conference
- Supporting and marketing capital-area billboard campaign and patient video component