Several times this legislative season LINC has sent teams to Jefferson City to speak for the children, families and neighborhoods LINC serves.

It’s time well-spent, said two people who know the ins and outs of the Capitol: LINC Commissioners Kiki Curls and Shawn Foster.

Curls is a former state senator and representative with some 17 years of experience in Jefferson City. Foster, in doing advocacy work for several groups including the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, has also made the seasonal trip to the Capitol many times.

Curls and Foster are LINC’s newest representatives on the board of the Family and Community Trust in Missouri. The statewide organization coordinates the work of Missouri’s Community Partnerships, including LINC, in supporting the needs of local communities from the grassroots.

“It’s extremely important that legislators get a good feel for those who are actually making a difference in our communities,” Curls said, “and additionally to know what needs we have. I will tell you that the squeaky wheel does get the oil.”

LINC, as in years past, represented its community for special rally days at the Capitol, including Child Advocacy Day, Missouri Afterschool Network Day and FACT Community Partnerships Day.

These and other visits are important, Foster said.

“In the Capitol they don’t see sometimes what is going on with the urban environments,” he said. “They might not understand the needs we have in Kansas City. So the most important thing is to build relationships. You’re not always going to agree with each other, but you don’t want to come only when it’s transactional.”

Lawmakers are busy and they routinely have many visitors to their offices, but the efforts LINC makes builds relationships that stand out, Foster said.

”They trust you, they respect you, they know what you’re telling them is true,” he said. “It helps build those relationships that get the resources we need here in Kansas City.”

From her time as a lawmaker, Curls said, she knows the breadth of LINC’s reputation.

“It’s not just seen here at home with families,” she said. “I will tell you it is seen all across the state. There are many folks around the state that know the great work LINC has done over the years and I’m happy to be a part of it.”