DeAnn Kerr, the Grassroots Goddess

I help trade associations increase member engagement in their Government Affairs activities, including Action Alerts and fundraising.

Meeting planners can expect a keynote presentation or training customized to the association's objectives and the attendees' current overall level of engagement. My presentations are informative, entertaining and will inspire your members to get more involved. You can also expect a high level of professionalism.

Attendees will:
-Understand the value of their opinions and expressing them
-Gain confidence in how to best communicate with legislators.
-Learn how to use the most persuasive tools, techniques and tactics to make change.

I am a public speaker and advocate trainer who is also the owner of Leverage Public Affairs, a communications firm specializing in grassroots advocacy. I help organizations engage their members in their grassroots lobbying and political efforts. I’ve trained and coached more than 1,000 volunteer advocates over the last twenty-five years.

I staffed my first congressional campaign in 1988 and have been involved in legislative and grassroots advocacy ever since. I’ve served on the Washington DC staffs for two Members of Congress, acted as executive director of a national grassroots political organization and worked on numerous political campaigns. Beginning in 1995 I spent 25 years successfully building all grassroots programs for the California Associations of REALTORS®, the largest state trade association in the country.

I am also a wife, a mom (special needs and otherwise), a political junkie, an indifferent cook, a less-than-stellar housekeeper, an accidental Girl Scout leader, a coffee addict, and an occasionally disappointed but always faithful San Francisco 49ers fan.