American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)

📢 NEW DATE! Tuesday, October 8th ⭐ At this exciting virtual event, we'll discuss how the 2024 election could impact the fight against cancer. ACS CAN President Lisa A. Lacasse will share how candidates, if elected, will help shape cancer policy for years to come. Expert pollsters from Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research will share key polling data about how voters view cancer issues in this election. Join us for timely, impactful opportunities for you to make an impact in the fight against cancer this election season. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/dUUid5Sq #CancerVotes #CancerAdvocacy #Election2024

This #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, join us for a virtual event: 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 Hosted by ACS CAN’s six volunteer affinity groups, this important conversation will focus on breast cancer screening disparities and opportunities including access, costs, mammographic quality, stigma, and discrimination. Cancer survivors and panelists will share their stories and expertise to highlight the commonalities and unique considerations each community experiences. 📅Thursday, October 17th at 8pm ET | 5pm PT Register: https://lnkd.in/e-5_BtZJ

For our September Volunteer Spotlight, we are thrilled to highlight Eugenia (Gina) Posada from ACS CAN Texas ! Gina serves as Ambassador Constituent Team (ACT) Lead for district 16 and has been a longtime volunteer. Gina is also a founding member of the ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance, one of our six volunteer affinity groups. Gina lost her father to stomach cancer when she was seven years old, and since has lost other family members to cancer. “I used to attend a cancer support group in El Paso where my friend introduced me to ACS CAN. I used to translate the information and presentations at the cancer group for people who did not speak English. There were no interpretation services at the meetings. She suggested since I like to advocate for people, the ACS CAN experience would be a great match for me.” Gina has been integral in encouraging more Hispanic/Latino volunteers to get involved with ACS CAN. “Recruiting is a challenge; some people shy away from speaking to legislators. I tell people that legislators work for us, we elect them, so we need to bring topics that matter to us [to their attention] and make change happen. We must open the dialogue and have those much-needed conversations.” Gina was one of this year’s recipients of the ACT Lead of the Year Award. There were many reasons she was nominated, including co-leading a breakout session on building partnerships during the Affinity Group Roundtable, serving as a panelist in the first-ever Spanish language volunteer training for ACS CAN in 2023, and presenting during her Texas summer volunteer training on the importance of diversifying volunteer representation. Gina is a shining example of what it means to be an ACS CAN advocate. Please join us in thanking her for everything she does for the fight against cancer! #CancerAdvocacy #CancerStories #HealthEquity #HispaniceHeritageMonth #LatinoHeritageMonth #MesDeLaHerenciaHispana

Last week at #CancerLobbyDay, ACS CAN volunteers attended breakout sessions where they learned various skills to support them in their advocacy work. At the Value of Video session, volunteers learned how effective video is for storytelling, especially on social media. They practiced creating short social videos to highlight their cancer stories and address lawmakers about our Lobby Day asks, including the importance of increasing funding for cancer research. Check out some of their excellent examples! 🌟 

ACS CAN volunteers from our ACSí Se Puede Hispanic/Latino Advocacy Alliance, along with ACS CAN staff, wish you a Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Throughout the year, ACSí Se Puede works to reduce cancer disparities in Hispanic/Latino communities and supports ACS CAN’s initiatives and campaigns by planning activities that increase awareness, strengthen community engagement, and advance policy focused on the unique challenges and cancers disparities their communities face. #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinoHeritageMonth #MesDeHerenciaHispana #CancerAdvocacy 

On the final day of Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, we presented the National Distinguished Advocacy Awards to state lawmakers Pennsylvania Senator Devlin Robinson, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera for their work to pass biomarker testing legislation, fight Big Tobacco, reform medical debt, expand Medicaid, and advocate for policies that support cancer patients, survivors, and their families. We also presented the Judicial Advocacy Award to Cybil Gregory Roehrenbeck, a partner at Hogan Lovells, for her work to help ensure access and quality of care for patients, improve palliative care, support caregivers and more. Next it was time to recognize our #LightsOfHope Top 10 Fundraisers! Thank you for all you’ve done to support cancer advocacy and contribute to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. Then we heard from an incredible panel of young adult storytellers: ACS CAN Minnesota Vice State Lead Ambassador Jennifer Schultz, ACS CAN Kentucky Ambassador Constituent Lead Remy Kennedy, and ACS CAN Ohio Volunteer Dr. Alique Topalian, PhD, MPH. Thank you for sharing your journeys and elevating the importance of the young adult cancer and caregiver experience and its implications for cancer policy. Finally, author Suleika Jaouad served as our Keynote Speaker, sharing wisdom on her experience as a cancer patient and survivor, biases in the cancer space, the importance of trusting your instincts, making space to feel a range of emotions, and seeking joy as an act of defiance. #CancerLobbyDay #CancerAdvocacy #CancerStories

#CancerLobbyDay and #LightsOfHope was a success! Hundreds of ACS CAN advocates donned their blue shirts and headed to Capitol Hill during the day to meet with their lawmakers and urge them to: ✅ Increase cancer research and prevention funding ✅ Support cancer prevention, early detection, and screening In the evening, 10,000 Lights of Hope bags were displayed at the Hope Walk in Constitution Gardens to honor and remember those touched by cancer. Stay tuned for updates from the final day of Leadership Summit and Lobby Day.

It was an incredible day yesterday at the Leadership Summit portion of #CancerLobbyDay! ACS CAN volunteers on the National Ambassador Team—Jacqueline Beale from Maryland and Lori Bremner from California—kicked off the morning as our emcees. Cancer advocates listened to welcome remarks from ACS CAN Board of Directors Chair Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, PhD, American Cancer Society Board of Directors Chair Brian Marlow, CFA, and ACS CAN President Lisa A. Lacasse Lacasse. Volunteers also received a special video message from ACS and ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen Knudsen MBA PhD. Then it was time for ACS CAN volunteers to attend breakout sessions, where they learned about how they can use their voices to impact change—from utilizing media for storytelling to understanding emerging issues in the cancer space, and more. At lunchtime, ACS CAN volunteers heard a great discussion on cancer research with ACS Chief Scientific Officer Dr. William Dahut and National Cancer Institute (NCI) Institute Director Dr. Kimryn Rathmell. Next up was the Hill meeting session with representatives from ACS CAN’s Federal Affairs team—Julie Nickson, James M. Williams, Jr, Jelani Murrain, and Nishith P.—before volunteers transitioned to their state meeting prep sessions. The day ended with the Affinity Group Meet & Greet, leading into the CAN Opener!

📌 Important reminder: ACS CAN’s silent auction closes *today* at 8:40pm ET | 5:40pm PT Don’t miss your chance to bid on something special! The proceeds help continue our work to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Bid now ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eUQR7eAt #CancerLobbyDay

Last night we hosted our National Advocacy Leadership Awards to kick off the start of #CancerLobbyDay. These volunteer recipients have exemplified courageous leadership, unrelenting passion and true dedication to our mission to end cancer as we know, for everyone. This year’s winners include:   🌟Patty Avery – Volunteer Award for Excellence in Advocacy  🌟Caroline Torres Maldonado – State Lead Ambassador of the Year (not pictured)  🌟Laura LaRose – Ambassador Constituent Team (ACT) Lead of the Year (not pictured)  🌟Debra Nevels – Ambassador Constituent Team (ACT) Lead of the Year  🌟Eugenia Posada – Ambassador Constituent Team (ACT) Lead of the Year (not pictured)  🌟McKayla McCullah – Young Leader Award  🌟Kira Sano – Young Leader Award (not pictured)  🌟Team New York - State Advocacy Team of the Year Congratulations and thank you for all that you do for ACS CAN and #CancerAdvocacy!