Advocate Spotlight: Lori Raymond

For Lori Raymond, advocating for older adults, people with disabilities, and those who face barriers to speaking up is deeply personal. Growing up in foster care and aging out of the system, she learned early what it means to navigate complex systems without enough support. Rather than leaving that experience behind, she carried it forward into a career spanning more than thirty years working alongside families with low incomes and individuals living with mental, physical, and developmental disabilities. With a family history of mental illness and substance use, her commitment to the people she advocates for runs even deeper.

"The most vulnerable people in the world inspire me to make the world a better place."

Lori traces her passion back to her grandmother, who was a dedicated advocate herself. “I know she rubbed off on me,” Lori says.

Learning the Power of Advocacy

In her work in the nonprofit field, Lori began seeing firsthand just how much advocacy can shift outcomes for entire communities. “I realized it has the power to impact so many lives and began trying to learn to be better at it!” she says. The more she learned, the more she wanted to do.

Lori first connected with New Futures through an advocacy training: "I've been trying to learn how to be a better advocate and share that knowledge ever since." It's a commitment that extends beyond herself, as she's made it a point to bring colleagues and peers along with her, helping build a broader culture of advocacy at her own workplace.

Advocacy in Action

When asked about her favorite advocacy memory, Lori doesn't hesitate: testifying at the State House for the Senate bills that strengthen Medicare Savings Programs in New Hampshire. She's made the trip multiple times, each time sharing the experiences of older adults who need more support paying for Medicare — and she's carried that message to social media as well.

"The more I can speak up for seniors that are struggling, the happier I become."

As a former SHIP Counselor and now Senior Medicare Patrol Specialist through the Partnership for Public Health, Lori meets people every day who are stretched thin by rising costs and working hard to stay afloat. She brings those real stories into legislative spaces and policy discussions, putting a human face to the policy.

Building a Movement at Work

Lori's advocacy doesn't stop at the State House doors. This year, she helped launch an Advocacy Steering Committee at the Partnership for Public Health. The goal is to equip her colleagues with information, training, and practical tools so they can advocate for the communities they serve, and inspire others to do the same.

Advice for Fellow Advocates

Lori's message to new and seasoned advocates alike is refreshingly direct: it's more accessible than you think. She advises you to get involved and learn how to share your opinion on a bill through New Futures. Lori points out, "Most people do not know how easy it can be to make their voices heard. Keep learning and understand how powerful your voice is to the world around you."

Thank you, Lori, for your decades of dedication, your tireless advocacy session after session, and for empowering new advocates alongside you!

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