Jackson Free Press

Brittany Hickman never thought she would be a lobbyist, but when she started speaking out on legislation to advance women's rights, she realized the process was much easier than she thought.

"I always imagined lobbying and meeting with representatives as something that would be really hard to do," she says. "What we have to remember is that our representatives are there for us. We are their constituents, and we are the reason they were elected. They are very interested in meeting with us, and learning what we think about legislation."

Hickman, 23, is first state chairwoman for CARE, a humanitarian organization that works to fight global poverty with a focus on women and children.

In May, Hickman attended the 2010 National CARE Conference in Washington, D.C., where she met with representatives from Mississippi, Republican Sens. Thad Cochran, Roger Wicker and U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper's office. At the conference, she received training to lobby for federal legislation to fight global hunger, prevent child marriage and improve maternal health care.

In June, Hickman also facilitated community and legislative meetings for Mehjabeen Alarkhia, a CARE representative from Tanzania who visited Jackson. After Alarkhia's visit, the organization offered Hickman the volunteer position of state chairwoman.

As the state chairwoman, she is responsible for meeting with state representatives, organizing events and bringing national and international speakers to Jackson.

In October, she will attend CARE's national chair conference in Atlanta, and she is also working on a local event for the organization's National Day of Action on Oct. 17.

A native of Hattiesburg, Hickman graduated from Millsaps College where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and anthropology in 2009. She currently works as a catering specialist at Newk's Express Cafe. Hickman is also a member of the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women.

"I am really glad that I stayed in Jackson. There is a lot of work that can be done, and a lot of organizations that people can get involved in whether it's the Commission for Status of Women, or CARE. We are lucky that in our state, compared to other states, our public officials are more accessible to us," she says.

For more information about the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women, e-mail Marianne Hill at [e-mail missing]. To get involved with CARE, visit the organization's website or e-mail Hickman at [e-mail missing].

This article's author, JFP news editor Lacey McLaughlin, also attended the 2010 National Care Conference in May, due to a grant from CARE.