When people talk about advocacy in Alabama, they often lead with what’s going wrong: the statistics, the barriers, and the policies that feel out of reach. But what stood out most to me after speaking with Strategies and Partnerships Manager, Jasmine Hooper, about the recent Alabama State Advocacy Convening was something very different: the power of relationships, and the clarity of purpose that comes when communities are truly centered.
Jasmine attended the convening in her role as Alabama’s State Captain for the five-state power-sharing initiative, but her presence went far beyond a title. She served as a convener, co-planner, listener, and connector, helping bring together advocates from across the state to reflect on a year of maternal health findings and to look ahead to what families in Alabama need next.
Attendees from various early childhood organizations participate in a lively breakout session focused on building advocacy partnerships at the “Alabama Runs on Relationships” convening.
This convening was designed as a capstone moment, not just to summarize findings from the year, but to ask a bigger question: How do we move forward together as Alabama approaches the 2026 legislative session? And importantly, how do we do so in a way that honors the voices of those closest to the work?
One of the most intentional choices made was how the convening began. Rather than opening with familiar “doom and gloom” data points, the day started by highlighting what has gone right: the wins, the momentum, and the resilience of advocates across Alabama. As Jasmine shared with me, communities already know the challenges they face. What they need is space to imagine progress, celebrate effort, and build a strategy rooted in shared purpose.
That spirit carried throughout the room. The convening was overwhelmingly women-led, with executive directors, mothers, educators, doulas, and advocates working across the prenatal-to-three space. The energy was collaborative and welcoming, grounded in lived experience and mutual respect. People didn’t just attend sessions; they stayed to connect, exchange resources, and build trust. One phrase kept surfacing again and again: “Alabama runs on relationships.”
At NCIT, we know this to be true. Systems change happens fastest, and most sustainably, when relationships come first.
Despite Alabama’s reputation as a deeply conservative state, what Jasmine witnessed was not discouragement, but determination. Advocates spoke candidly about the roadblocks they face, while also pointing to recent legislative wins as proof that progress is possible. Across conversations and breakout discussions, one policy priority rose clearly to the top: Medicaid expansion. Both the statewide listening tours and the convening itself affirmed that this remains a critical issue for maternal and child health advocates as they prepare for the next legislative session.
Attendees share insights and lessons from statewide advocacy efforts, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building and cross-sector collaboration in advancing early childhood policy.
What struck me most in hearing Jasmine reflect on how success was measured. It wasn’t about headcounts or sign-in sheets. Success looked like full rooms, engaged facilitators, and participants leaving energized rather than depleted. It looked like new partnerships were forming, including a promising connection with Village Maternal Services that could lead to future trainings and cross-state collaboration. These moments matter because they extend the life of a convening far beyond a single day or two.
This is the heart of NCIT’s work: investing in people, honoring community expertise, and building networks that last. Advocacy doesn’t always move in sweeping legislative wins; sometimes it moves in trust built, confidence gained, and relationships strengthened.
As Alabama advocates continue this work, the next steps are already taking shape, informed by findings, convening feedback, and a shared vision for what families deserve. What Jasmine’s experience makes clear is that even in challenging political climates, hope is not only present, it’s organized.
And in Alabama, that hope runs on relationships!
Laura Coleman is the Advocacy Media Relations Manager for Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association, and the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT). She leads media strategy across campaigns nationwide and helps equip Voices for Healthy Kids grantees and NCIT members with the skills they need to build strong, strategic relationships with reporters to advance public policy. Laura holds an M.S. in Strategic Communication from Louisiana State University, a B.S. in Mass Communication from Jackson State University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Health Equity at Meharry Medical College. Off the clock, she’s with family, friends, and her fur baby, Eve.
