Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Judie Mancuso of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL) Is Helping To Change Our World

Never give up, even on disheartening days. This work is an emotional rollercoaster. We do have a lot to celebrate, but sometimes the bills are stalled for one reason or another and then we have to start again the following year. For example, AB 1282 California Blood Bank Modernization Act, is a bill we’re hoping will sail through this year, because it has already done so in 2019. It made its way to the Governor’s desk, but he didn’t sign it because “it did not go far enough”. So now we are back, incorporating the changes he wanted to see and hoping this is the year it becomes a law. But now because of Covid delays, there have been so many animals that could have been saved if it just passed into law the first time around. This is the heartbreak we feel, but it also keeps us going.

As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Judie Mancuso.

Judie Mancuso is the founder, CEO and president of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL), a nonprofit dedicated to saving and protecting animals. Under her direction, SCIL has spearheaded more than 50 state bills — including 18 that have been signed into law, 17 in California and one in NY. She has also successfully led organized opposition against some of the world’s largest special interest groups to stop harmful and exploitative legislation that would negatively impact animals. For more information about Judie, please visit www.socialcompassioninlegislation.com.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?