Conference Presentation, Panel
Strategic Advocacy: Persuading People to Care
Milken InstituteCheryl Wu-Dunn, Seth Rogen, Lauren Miller-Rogen, Maria Shriver, Jalissa Alvarado, Liz Simons, Carolyn Gallagher, Margaret Brennan, Carolyn Jungermann Bennett, Jennif, David Levinson, John McCurry, Jr., Nancy Kanwisher, Jr., Martha Minow, Kathy Ireland, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Martha Nussbaum
- Hilarity for Charity aims to mobilize young people to increase Alzheimer's research funding to billions, similar to levels for cancer and HIV, anticipating a rise in patients from 5.6 million to 15 million by 2050 and expecting politicians to act if they perceive public urgency.
- The organization plans to destigmatize the disease through film, television, and comedy events targeting millennials, while producing a documentary titled This is Alzheimer's to normalize the condition and encourage early-stage patients to speak publicly.
- Scientists predict that securing sufficient funding will enable the discovery of a treatment, with hopes that young, science-literate generations will address the scientific challenges as they become primary caregivers or patients in the coming years.
- Save the Children Action Network intends to become a political force comparable to the NRA by spending funds to defeat candidates who oppose early childhood education and by mobilizing voters in school board, state delegate, and state senate races.
- The network anticipates that the next presidential election will be decided by a female voter surplus of 10 million and expects political leaders to address early childhood education if voters demand it, including potential policy pushes by Hillary Clinton.
- Experts project that 90 percent of brain development occurs by age five, warning that the achievement gap begins before this age and worsens without intervention, while early education investment could save billions currently spent on remediation and reduce incarceration rates.
- Business leaders expect a revolution in employee policies regarding flex time and leave to support working mothers, anticipating that acknowledging these needs will boost loyalty and productivity while making companies more competitive.
- Companies anticipate leveraging growth to enforce strict human rights and labor contracts in their supply chains, as small entities lack the influence to challenge bad actors effectively.
- Human trafficking is identified as the fastest-growing illegal business globally, with expectations that rising public alertness in locations like restaurants and motels will help identify sex trafficking situations.
- Advocates expect government and law enforcement involvement to improve laws and emergency room protocols to identify trafficking victims, noting that the "Bring Back Our Girls" campaign support was necessary but insufficient as captives remain held.
- When sex slaves are no longer profitable, they are frequently sold into forced labor, and the infection rate of HIV among this population is described as astronomical, with a projection that 230 people will be infected by the next hour.
- Current generations are perceived as careless regarding HIV/AIDS, prompting a reliance on Elizabeth Taylor's model to prevent advocacy efforts from being dismissed and to ensure the next generation becomes HIV/AIDS-free.
- Safeguarding girls and boys targeted by trafficking involves galvanizing churches to provide safe houses, while government support is expected to improve information dissemination in emergency rooms to aid identification and protection efforts.