Creating change through the political process
On Thursday, our Class II Fellows used Zoom to meet with some of Indiana’s most seasoned political leaders. Our discussion with them was the third of three sessions focused on “tools” in the “toolbox” we can use to make our state better - the first two focused on entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
We are especially thankful to EdChoice’s Robert Enlow, Institute for Quality Education’s Betsy Wiley, former Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma, Hallowell Consulting’s Jennifer Hallowell, and Barnes and Thornburg’s Heather Willey for sharing their experience and insight with us.
After meeting with them, we spent some time discussing what we learned through our conversations and the pre-meeting background reading we did. Here were the takeaways, according to our Fellows:
A focus on policy (vs. politics) seems to be rising in importance and desirability, especially in light of the Coronavirus impact. A candidate or staffer with a sharp policy mind is worth a premium today.
At the local level, the political process is generally still accessible to people who want to be involved. If you show an interest in either of the two major parties, chances are you can find a role.
Indiana’s financial position is very strong, which puts us in a unique position. This didn’t happen on its own - leaders with a vision and deliberate plan made it happen. The state budget will be hit hard in the coming months, and it will take deliberate leadership and planning to respond to this too.
We knew going in that politics needs innovation and fresh thinking. We realized that we can bring that from outside (as private citizens) and not just from the inside (as elected leaders).
If you’re wondering if you can make a difference in Indiana through the political process, this summary may help you as you consider how best to get involved!
