I'm from Baltimore... OF COURSE you hear TEW when I say TO
Meet Trish
Patricia Lynn Watson
Founder & President, Tew Advocate
Government doesn't have to be complicated—it just needs the right advocate.
Policy is personal. Behind every bill, budget, and ballot is a person, a family, a business, or a community whose future is shaped by the decisions made in government. That's why this work matters.
I'm Patricia Lynn Watson, Founder and President of Tew Advocate, a Maryland-based government relations, lobbying, and public affairs firm dedicated to helping nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, associations, labor organizations, and mission-driven organizations navigate government, influence public policy, and create lasting change.
For more than two decades, I've worked at the intersection of public policy, community engagement, and strategic advocacy. I've learned that successful government relations isn't about having the loudest voice in the room—it's about building trusted relationships, understanding the legislative process, and bringing the right people together to solve complex problems.
Throughout my career, I've partnered with organizations of every size to secure funding, advance legislation, build coalitions, and strengthen communities. From local council chambers to Annapolis—and even the White House—I've helped clients transform ideas into action and policy into progress.
My work spans economic development, workforce development, public safety, housing, transportation, voting rights, women's issues, disability advocacy, healthcare, education, and community investment. During the 2025 Maryland General Assembly alone, I supported clients and coalition partners in advancing legislation, securing critical appropriations, and helping shape policies that will positively impact Maryland communities for years to come.
Why I Do This Work
One of the greatest influences on my life and career was my mother-in-love, Susan Watson—a pioneering journalist who broke barriers as one of the first women columnists and the first female editor of the Detroit Free Press. But titles were never what defined her.
Mom dedicated her life to labor, community activism, and fighting for working families. If there was a rally to organize, a picket line to walk, a community to mobilize, or a cause that needed a voice, she was there—whether it was the middle of the night, a holiday, or while everyone else was on vacation.
She taught me something that has stayed with me throughout my life:
"Advocacy isn't just a title. It's a way of life."
You don't clock in and out of advocacy. You live it. You build relationships before you need them. You show up when it's inconvenient. You stand beside people when the cameras are gone. And you keep fighting long after the headlines have faded.
That lesson became the foundation of Tew Advocate.
Combined with Shirley Chisholm's timeless reminder,
"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair."
it shapes how I serve every client. Advocacy isn't about access for the sake of access. It's about opening doors, building trust, creating opportunity, and making sure every community has a voice where decisions are made.
Because meaningful change doesn't happen by waiting for an invitation.
It happens because someone is willing to bring the chair, pull up to the table, and make room for others.
About Tew Advocate
Tew Advocate is a Black woman-owned government relations, lobbying, and public affairs firm serving nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, labor organizations, associations, and mission-driven organizations throughout Maryland.
We believe meaningful change happens when strategy meets relationships.
Our work combines legislative expertise, coalition building, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications to help clients navigate government, influence policy, secure public funding, and achieve measurable results.
Whether advocating in Annapolis, collaborating with local governments, building statewide coalitions, or helping organizations understand and influence the legislative process, our approach remains the same:
• Listen First.
• Build Trust.
• Lead with Integrity.
• Deliver Results.
Our services include:
• Government Relations
• Legislative Strategy
• Legislative Monitoring & Analysis
• Coalition Building
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Public Affairs
• Advocacy Campaign Development
• Public Funding & Appropriations Strategy
• Strategic Communications
Our work has helped clients secure millions of dollars in public investments, advance landmark legislation, strengthen community partnerships, and turn policy priorities into measurable outcomes.
We don't just help clients understand government.
We help them navigate it with confidence.
Our Philosophy
"Advocacy isn't just a title. It's a way of life."
— Susan Watson
"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair."
— Shirley Chisholm