Introducing a New Series

By Shannon Jones

I’ve spent my entire career working in and around conservative policymaking circles—first as a congressional staffer in Washington, then as a Republican legislator in the Ohio General Assembly, and now as a Warren County Commissioner. I’ve sat on both sides of the table—as the staffer drafting legislation, the lawmaker making tough budget decisions, and the local official navigating complex community needs.

But I’ve also been on the advocacy side. As the former President & CEO of Groundwork Ohio, I led a statewide early childhood policy organization, working to advance bold, bipartisan solutions for children and families. I’ve pitched lawmakers, built coalitions, and seen firsthand what makes advocacy succeed—or stall out.

In all of these roles, one thing has remained constant: the communication gap between advocates and conservative policymakers.

I’ve watched passionate advocates present thoughtful, well-researched proposals—only to walk away frustrated when their message doesn’t seem to land. I’ve also seen Republican lawmakers tune out ideas that, with a little reframing, they might have championed.

That disconnect isn’t about values. It’s about language, assumptions, and approach.

Many well-meaning advocates struggle to connect with conservative lawmakers—not because their ideas are bad, but because their messaging is off-key. They lead with the wrong frame, use language that doesn’t resonate, or fail to align their policy goals with the real-world motivations of the people they’re trying to persuade.

I started On Key Strategies to help bridge that gap—to help advocates refine their message, find common ground, and win support from across the aisle. And with the political ground shifting under our feet, this work is more urgent than ever.

That’s why I’m launching this blog series: “From the Other Side of the Table.” It’s a candid look at what works—and what doesn’t—when trying to engage conservative policymakers. I’ll draw from my own experience across government, advocacy, and consulting to offer insights that I hope will help advocates be more effective, funders be more strategic, and movements be more successful.

Whether you’re working on child care, maternal health, tax policy, or economic mobility, the goal is the same: to be heard. And to do that, we have to speak the right language.

The first part of this series drops next week. It’s called “Inside the Statehouse: What Advocates Often Get Wrong About Conservative Legislators.”

I hope you’ll follow along.