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Advocacy 101

Advocacy 101. Government and Labor Relations Department Jason Joseph, Director Joe Minor Karyn Cunningham. What is Advocacy?. Speaking, writing, or acting in support of a cause Using a variety of organized tactics to achieve a public policy goal

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Advocacy 101

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  1. Advocacy 101 Government and Labor Relations Department Jason Joseph, Director Joe Minor Karyn Cunningham

  2. What is Advocacy? • Speaking, writing, or acting in support of a cause • Using a variety of organized tactics to achieve a public policy goal • Demanding a change to benefit the lives of many

  3. Advocacy: • Asks something of others • Puts the demands of people into systems • Deals with issues and conflicts • Involves people • Creates a space for public discussion • Finds solutions to problems

  4. Why do people get involved? • Belief that the issue is important to them and their family • You have something to contribute • Belief that you will be listened to and your contributions respected • You believe that your participation will make a difference

  5. The Three “A’s” of Advocacy • Awareness • Your own, friends, family, colleagues, legislators. • Advancement • By getting involved, you can help advance a movement or effect a policy change. • Action • Make contacts, write letters, call or visit your elected officials, support an organization.

  6. Focus for Advocacy- Who? • Governmental Entity • County Government • Municipal Government • School Board • Florida Legislature • The Executive Office of Government • Governor • Members of the Cabinet • Regulatory Agencies • The Judiciary • Business Organizations • Non-for Profit Organizations • Civic Organizations

  7. Advocacy Planning-What? • What do you want? • Process goals • Content goals • Who can deliver it? • Formal authority • Influence • What message(s) do they need to hear? • Organizational • Public interest • Self-interest

  8. Advocacy Planning • Who do they need to hear it from? • Group Leadership • Group Stakeholders • Expert voices • Authentic voices • How do we get them to hear it? • Persuasion • Pressure

  9. Be Well Informed… Information and Research • Know the most about your issue • Find as many sources of information as possible • Research arguments for and against • Know who supports and who opposes • Research surveys and opinion polls on issue

  10. Identify Opportunities to Participate in Advocacy • Attend as many meeting to get our the word about your issue or cause • Educate policymakers about your issues (at public hearing, meeting with monitors, at their school or district forum, etc.)

  11. Participation Opportunities • Share their stories in writing through: • Letter to the state • Letter to the editor • Letter to the monitors • Letter to an advocate with permission to disclose • Reach out to other community stakeholders groups to encourage their participation

  12. Why Should WE Be Advocates? • Children can’t advocate for themselves • We have a unique position to see problems and understand their implications • The problems matter

  13. Understand The Legislative “Process” and How It Affects Your Issue or Your Cause • The Legislative Process is Slooooooow ... • Varies for different Legislative bodies • Know when your voice will be heard • Proposal of a bill • Public Hearings on the issue • Lobbying individual legislators • And Intervene!

  14. Action Steps for Advocacy • Engage in: • Letter writing campaign, • Petition signing, or • Invite policy makers to an upcoming meeting where your group will be conducting an advocacy activity

  15. How to Make a Difference… • VOTE! Participate in all local, state and federal elections! • Find out who your Legislators are. • Call them in support/against a bill. • Write a Letter to the Editor • Write an Op-Ed • Visit the State Legislature / Congress • Participate in “Call to Action”- Participate in Phone Banking to get our your message http://www.labelvalue.com/images/iVotedKids.gif

  16. Next Steps to Your Begin Advocacy • Identify an issue or a cause for which you would like to be an advocate for. • Become an Advocate!

  17. Advocacy “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

  18. Questions?

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