ISSUE VOTER with Maria Yuan: How to make a real impact on policy and make your voice heard with the founder of Issue Voter

Julie and Casey sit down with Maria Yuan of Issue Voter to talk all things political engagement: the what, the how and the impact. 

TOP TAKEAWAYS

• How Issue Voter can help you sift through and engage with your reps and what's important to you.
• Why the primaries are a critical time to choose candidates that represent you
• Forget petitions- Maria tells us what and who your reps are really listening for (it might not be what you think).
• What to say to your reps to get them to pay attention to issues you care about. 
• How issues with overwhelming voter support can still fail in congress. 

Julie gives a short lesson at the end on the art and power of debate, and the two elements that are crucial to balance.  

Bio: Maria Yuan is passionate about fixing significant, systemic problems by leveraging creativity and determination to achieve world-changing results and impact. As the Founder of IssueVoter, our mission is to give everyone a voice in our representative democracy. Individuals from all 435 Congressional Districts already use IssueVoter and we have sent over two million alerts to individuals and opinions back to Congress. IssueVoter has motivated Americans to vote, stay informed, and make their voices heard between elections, when the real work that affects our lives gets done. IssueVoter also collaborates with organizations to engage and activate their communities in impactful ways.

Maria's political experience includes introducing and passing a bill as a constituent, working for a Representative, and managing and winning one of the most targeted races in Iowa - an open seat in a swing district. Maria's professional experience includes investment banking, strategy, corporate development, recruiting, social enterprise, and consulting. She currently serves on the Bridge Alliance Board of Directors and Keep Families Giving Foundation Advisory Board and has served on the boards of Gibney Dance, The University of Texas Co-Op, and Friends of the Children New York.

Maria's interviews and writing have appeared in Real Clear Politics, The Hill, PBS, MTV, Fast Company, and more, and she has spoken at conferences, companies, and universities across the U.S. on civic engagement, technology, and democracy. Maria earned degrees from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania and The University of Texas at Austin.