Mobilizing seniors and others to influence important policy issues.
Find a list of our local elected officials below, or visit https://www.congress.gov/members.
Thursday, April 2, 2026 – Advocacy 101
The community is invited to join Area Agency on Aging staff, partners and providers as they kick off Advocacy Season! Learn about important policy issues, how to talk to your elected officials and ways to tell your story. We’ll make signs to take with us to Older Michiganian’s Day in May, and provide early signups to ride the bus with us to Lansing.
Schedule:
10:30-11 a.m. – Advocacy 101 Presentation
11:00-11:30 a.m. – How to Tell Your Story
11:30-noon – Sign making and event sign up
For more information, call Alexandra at 269-408-4369.
Monday, April 13, 2026 – Annual Legislative Forum
The community is invited to the 19th Annual Legislative Forum and Multi-Year Plan Public Hearing!
This year’s event is 2-4 p.m. Monday, April 13 at the Campus for Creative Aging, 2920 Lakeview Ave., St. Joseph.
Event Schedule:
1:30 p.m. – Doors Open
2:00 p.m. – Multi-Year Plan Public Hearing
2:20 p.m. – Legislative Forum
3:40 p.m. – Meet & Greet
Area Agency on Aging staff will present the Agency’s proposed 2027-2029 Multi-Year Plan and their 2026 Advocacy Platform. Public comment and Q&A time will be built in to each presentation.
State and national legislators and their staff will be in attendance. No RSVP needed. This is a free, community event.
For questions or accessibility accommodations, reach out to Amanda Drew at 269-982-7740.
Save the date:
Older Michiganians Day 2026:
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Older Americans Month, Older Michiganians Day, and Senior Action Week are full of activities, events and advocacy opportunities each year that let advocates understand and lend their support to issues of importance for older adults in Michigan.
What can you do? How can you participate?
- Learn more about the platform and the issues critical to seniors in our state. Area Agencies on Aging and other advocates across Michigan have put together a 3-point platform focused on the needs of older adults and those who care for them. You can download and read the entire platform here: PLATFORM
- Sign a letter of support so we can send it to your legislators. We’ve made it easy:
- Use the form HERE to submit an electronic letter of support to your legislator.
- Join us at our Annual Legislative Forum each Spring
- Attend Older Michiganians Day at the Capitol in Lansing each May.
- Attend the Older Michiganians Day Livestream Watch Party at the Campus for Creative Aging.
- Share information about Senior Action Week on your social media. We’ll post information every day on our Facebook page. Share it to spread the word about Senior Action Week and the needs of seniors.
Your Voice Counts!
Elected officials respond in an immediate and personal way to individual constituents. Your advocacy helps legislators understand how policies affect their constituents. It is this ‘voice of the consumer’ that can make the issue real for legislators and have a critical impact on how policy is shaped.
Concerned about the issues?
Sign up for Advocacy Alerts to receive up-to-date information on issues important to local seniors. Email our Advocacy Department at advocacy@areaagencyonaging.org to receive those alerts or call (269) 983-0177 for more information.
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Advocacy Directory
President & Vice President of the United States
Mailing Address:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111
Website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
Congress
Tim Walberg (R-Tipton, District 5)
NATIONAL OFFICE
2266 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6276
DISTRICT OFFICE
401 W. Michigan Ave.,
Jackson, MI 49201
Phone: (517) 780-9075
Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland, District 4)
NATIONAL OFFICE
2232 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4401
DISTRICT OFFICE
170 College Ave. Suite 160
Holland, MI 49423
Phone: 616-251-6741
U.S. Senators
Gary C. Peters (D)
NATIONAL OFFICE
269 Russell Courtyard Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6221
Website: https://www.peters.senate.gov/
Elissa Slotkin (D)
NATIONAL OFFICE
825B Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4822
Website: https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/
Governor, State of Michigan
Gretchen Whitmer (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-3400
517-335-7858 (Constituent Services)
Michigan State House of Representatives
Pauline Wendzel (R-District 39)
S-888 House Office Building P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Phone: (517) 373-1799
Toll Free: (888) 656-0079
Fax: (517) 373-3652
E-mail: PaulineWendzel@house.mi.gov
Joey Andrews (D-District 38)
S-887 House Office Building P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Phone: (517) 373-0827
Email: JoeyAndrews@house.mi.gov
Steve Carra (R-District 36)
S-885 House Office Building, P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Phone: (517) 373-0843
Toll Free: (877) 262-5959
Fax: (517) 373-5763
E-mail: SteveCarra@house.mi.gov
Brad Paquette (R-District 37)
S-866 House Office Building, P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Phone: (517) 373-1793
Toll Free: (888) 373-0037
Fax: (517) 373-8501
E-mail: BradPaquette@house.mi.gov
Michigan State Senators
Senator Jonathon Lindsey (R-District 17)
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Phone: (517) 373-3543
Toll Free: (855) 347-8017
Fax: (517) 373-0927
E-mail: SenJLindsey@senate.michigan.gov
Aric Nesbitt (R-District 20)
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
Phone: (517) 373-0793
Fax: (517) 373-5607
E-mail: SenANesbitt@senate.michigan.gov