by Arden Hellmann
June, 2 2025
With deep sadness, we share that Nancy Amidei, faculty emeritus and field instructor at the University of Washington School of Social Work, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2025, after a long battle with blood cancer.
Her passing leaves many of us deeply saddened and feeling an undeniable loss. Knowing Nancy, she would not want us to dwell in grief for long. As a self-described “democracy junkie,” she’d set us to work. After handing us a bag of chocolate to bring us a spark of joy, she’d declare, “So you want to make a difference? Advocacy is the key.” Those words—also the title of her civic engagement and advocacy book—captured not only her message, but her mission.
Nancy’s passionate advocacy career spanned decades and continents. She served in the Peace Corps in Nigeria, worked in the U.S. Senate, served in the Carter Administration, led a national anti-hunger organization and taught civic engagement to thousands at UW and in community settings internationally.
Her teachings were accessible, effective, and brought to life with unforgettable stories. Armed with a paper phone bearing the legislative hotline number (800-562-6000) and a folder with bold, clear directives for lawmakers, she taught the principles of advocacy with humor, heart, and urgency: identify your issue and goal; gather the facts; develop a strategy; build relationships with decision-makers; and broaden your base of support. These weren’t just steps on a handout, they were her call to action. She believed that everyone has the right and responsibility to speak up, and she gave people the tools and confidence to do just that.
Whether in a UW SSW classroom, a community center, or an elevator in the State Capital, Nancy would encourage people to “Take 5!” Take five minutes to call or talk with an elected official. Share your story. Make your voice heard! Assuring you, you are exactly the right person to speak up.
Nancy didn’t just teach advocacy, she lived it. While she influenced policy nationally and partnered with community groups internationally to provide advocacy trainings, she made major impact closer to home also, always providing opportunities and encouraging students to participate. She started the Decency Principles Project, which took action to address many issues, including educating and lobbying Metro leaders to provide equitable and needed public transportation to underserved communities. She co-founded Partnership for Youth, which united UW students, agencies, and local organizations to tackle issues like youth homelessness, food insecurity, and access to healthcare. Through the Civic Engagement Project, which she started, she taught and trained thousands of people to take action. In partnership with the Children’s Alliance, she developed Advocacy Camp, training families, youth, and service providers. She trained and equipped housing advocates in partnership with the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. She also trained immigrant and refugee communities how to tell their stories to lawmakers to impact needed change. Her approach was always the same: fun, practical, powerful, and passionate.
If you ever attended one of her workshops, chances are you remember the legendary “butter, butter, butter” (one person, one vote) story—her way of transforming nerves into laughter, helped even the shyest participant feel ready to speak truth to power.
Nancy’s legacy is not just what she accomplished, but the thousands she inspired to carry the work forward, including UW Social Work students who called the WA State Legislative Hotline for the first time under her guidance, went on to draft bills, testify before lawmakers, lead nonprofits, and teach the next generation of advocates. One former student shared, “She taught people how to speak to power with clarity and confidence. She changed my life.”
Nancy reminded us that policy is not abstract. It’s personal. It shapes people’s lives every day. So how do we honor her legacy? We act. We write the email. We make the call. We show up to the town hall, the budget hearing, and the community meeting. We teach others how government works—and how to improve it. She reminded us that democracy is not a spectator sport, it’s something we do, together.
Nancy showed us the map, the tools, and the courage. Now it’s our turn to take action and lead others forward. In her honor, we invite you to “Take 5!” today, contact your elected officials; register to vote; participate! And, while you’re at it, share chocolate with a fellow advocate; she loved chocolate!
Vote.gov – Register to VOTE or update your current voter registration in Washington State
Washington State Legislature – Find your Washington State Legislative District, Legislators, committee information, bill information, calendar, and more
League of Women Voters of Washington – “links to your government” and civic engagement materials
Congress.gov – Find your US Senators and Representative, calendar, procedural, and civic engagement information