Our 2026 MLK Lobby Day was a huge success with 300+ advocates joining us for a day of action. This year’s theme, It Takes A Village, reminds us that we all have a role to play in taking care of our communities.
A new, larger venue allowed this year’s advocates space to prep, plan and accommodate a large turnout and several new cohorts from around the state. Among these were students and faculty from the UW School of Social Work who joined each legislative district group as group liaisons. Other groups like the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) travelled all the way from Walla Walla.
This year’s policy priorities focused on meeting Washington’s budget shortfall and preserving and expanding lifeline programs. In the spotlight were progressive revenue proposals like the Millionaire’s Tax and the Well Washington Fund, aimed at addressing Washington’s regressive tax code and replacing lost federal funding. This is also an important year for consumer protections bills, with several industry-backed bills threatening to weaken existing regulation and worsen debt traps for Washingtonians trying to make ends meet.
A highlight of the day was the chance to interview returning advocates about their experience with Poverty Action’s annual Lobby Days. In brief conversations, several advocates who have joined us for as many as ten years helped us understand the highs and lows of an advocacy day experience, and why they keep coming back for more.
Below, hear from longtime advocate Jesse Kleinman on how working with Poverty Action and other advocacy orgs has motivated him to keep coming back every year:
It simply reinforced my belief that poverty is a policy choice…we live in a country where there’s been a choice to ignore poverty or else blame it on the people who are poor. My hope is for a completely progressive tax system along with a generous social safety net.
Jesse Kleinman, attendee of over 10 MLK Lobby Days
Check out a gallery of some of the best shots from this year’s event:
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