Inspiration is in short supply these days in Sacramento. But as I, and several of my MomsRising.org colleagues, delivered YOUR stories about healthcare to legislative aides, I saw a rare glimmer of interest and inspiration. The discussion quickly turned to, “How can we do it?” not “Is it important?”

We’re learning first-hand, in visits like these, that your stories make a difference. Hearing about a real family, a real struggle, a real success captures the importance of this issue better than academic data any day.

So, we’re continuing to look for ways to collect and share your stories. They don’t have to have the drama of a movie – the simple stories are often the best.

Our latest challenge to you – to make a short video (perhaps with your children, the tech gurus?) that captures your experiences in this powerful medium. It’s easier than it sounds -- all it takes is a video camera or digital camera with video capability, a computer, and access to the Internet. The entries can be serious or funny, include personal stories or not - just about anything that moves you and your kids.

We’re going to share these videos with legislators so they continue to get the message about how critical it is that we cover all kids.

Click here to learn more about how to get started:
http://www.momsrising.org/VideoContest_LearnMore

As extra motivation to your budding filmmakers, we've extended the deadline for our grand prize! The kid (under 18) whose video receives the most views on YouTube by September 15 will receive a $100 VISA gift card.

So stop reading this and get filming!