When you think of a lobbyist, you might think of a person in a suit, trying to get the attention of an elected official. But advocacy in state government is a lot more than that. 

Every Tuesday in Albany, thousands of people descend on the Capitol. They're regular New Yorkers, people who are worried about schools and housing and health care. People like Candace Rubin, who got up early and traveled the four hours by bus to be here. 

"I woke up at 4 a.m.," Rubin said. 

Rubin is a teacher in Rochester, where schools are dealing with the fallout from massive spending cuts. 

"We need to speak out for students who have trouble speaking for themselves," she said. 

Rallies, protests, demonstrations -- they're held over virtually any free space in the Capitol. 

Some are held a few steps away from where Governor Cuomo's office is at the Capitol on the second floor. This room is called the War Room and for advocates they often bring the fight right here. 

One of those advocates is Sarah Palmer, a Buffalo resident who came to rally with the Poor Peoples' Campaign. 

"It's so important because so many people are living in poverty and they feel like they don't have a voice," Palmer said.

Palmer said she feels like she can have influence when she's part of a group. 

"I don't have the power, but organized people have the power to change the government," she said.

This is what's called the million dollar staircase here at the Capitol and on really busy days like today, it's not unusual for one rally and press conference to be held here and then a few steps down, another event is taking place at the exact same time. 

And lawmakers like Senator Brad Hoylman say they're listening when people come to Albany. 

It's so important to hear the personal stories from advocates here, from lawyers who represent immigrants. 

And what this really amounts to is a day of advocacy -- to make sure Albany power brokers hear from the people.