Beefing up NULYP Advocacy & Civic Engagement

1. Beefing up NULYP Advocacy & Civic Engagement

2. Advocacy Ad·vo·ca·cy noun\ˈad-və-kə-sē\ : the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal : the act or process of advocating something

3. Advocacy Advocacy is a political process by an individual or group which aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions. Advocacy can include many activities that a person or organization undertakes including media campaigns, public speaking, and commissioning and publishing research or polls.   Lobbying (often by lobby groups) is a form of advocacy where a direct approach is made to legislators on an issue which plays a significant role in modern politics.  Research is beginning to explore how advocacy groups in the U.S.  and Canada are using social media to facilitate civic engagement and collective action

4. Advocacy Why is advocacy so important? More specifically, why is advocacy so important to NUL/Urban League YP chapters?

5. Advocacy • “We don’t just talk we do!” Our action is done through ADVOCACY • In the MONEY – Visibility to your sponsors • Advocacy campaigns help in building a highly respected Chapter in the community / Champion of the issues facing your community / / Branding opportunities • Building Capacity

6. Advocacy Forms of Advocacy There are several forms of advocacy, each represents different approach in a way change is brought into society. One of the most popular forms issocial justice advocacy. • Other forms: • Budget, Bureaucratic, Health, Ideological, Interest Group, Legislative, Mass, Media

7. Advocacy Advocacy & Leadership Finding and nurturing leadership in ordinary people with passion and commitment is at the core of what NULYP is about.

8. Advocacy The Committee The committee shall study, develop, and recommend polices to the board relating to the advocacy mission of the organization. All polices shall be in support of the organization’s strategic and annual plan. Policies must also be in line with advocacy efforts as requested by the National Urban League and the National Urban League Washington Bureau (formally the Policy Institute). The committee will follow a broad definition of advocacy that includes political as well as community outreach advocacy. Committee members will be assigned to four main areas:

9. Advocacy Four legs of NULYP Advocacy Committee Jobs Education Wealth Respect

10. Advocacy JOBS The unemployment rate for young people 15-24 doubled since 2007. As Young Professionals, our salaries remain stagnant with only 6% of our members making over $105,000 per year for 2010, 2011 and 2012. With 80% of our members unmarried, we will not be impacted by the proposed tax hike for those making over $250,000 a year. We are unwilling to absorb the majority of the impact of the fiscal cliff through pay reductions, freezes, fewer opportunities for advancement and continued increases in the retirement age.

11. Advocacy JOBS • We support employment equity, diversity and equal pay for all, from the assembly line to the C-Suite. • We expect fair fiscal and tax reform, not at the expense of Generation X and Millennials alone. We are opposed to a 401k tax and removal of mortgage interest deductions. • We support policies/programs that will increase our income and grow our businesses, increasing our wealth for future generations. (Legislation: American Jobs Act/Stimulus plan and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Reauthorization)

12. Advocacy EDUCATION We are concerned about the future competitiveness of our nation and want every child to have an opportunity to be successful. While most of our members have undergraduate and graduate level degrees, the evolving economy requires new skills. Opportunities to retool and expand skills should not add to our current student loan debt. 80.8% of our members currently pay student loans.

13. Advocacy EDUCATION • We support quality, word class education preparing all students for the diverse world they face focusing on careers with income-growth potential like STEM. (Legislation: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization, Early Childhood Education) • We support programs that reduce the financial burden created by a college education. (Legislation: Higher Education Act Reauthorization (Pell Shortfall and Financial Aid Reform) • We support affordable continuing education opportunities for adults and youth to create second chance opportunities for those who have fallen through the cracks of the education system.

14. Advocacy WEALTH Young Professionals age 21-40 are also concerned about the future and long-term wealth-generation of their families. Only 13.6% of our members are very confident their retirement strategy will sufficiently fund their retirement. Yet 49% of them provide financial assistance to members of their families who receive Social Security benefits at least once a year. 45% of our members have a net worth of $0 to $49,999, 1% have net worth of $500,000 or more and 15% do not know their net worth.

15. Advocacy WEALTH • We support adding financial literacy and investment training added to school curriculum and the member development programming of each NULYP chapter. • We support retirement savings opportunities for young people • We support legislation that keeps Social Security intact and provides access to affordable healthcare and Medicaid to keep costs down for ourselves and our families as we build wealth.

16. Advocacy RESPECT 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Young Professionals are still excluded from opportunity based on race, gender, and class. This impacts our ability to earn a living and build wealth for our families. We want a different reality for our children and want to expand the diversity conversation to include respect; respect for all people as human beings. Systematically addressing stereotypes will provide more opportunity for all and improve our collective mental well-being and quality of life.

17. Advocacy RESPECT 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Young Professionals are still excluded from opportunity based on race, gender, and class. This impacts our ability to earn a living and build wealth for our families. We want a different reality for our children and want to expand the diversity conversation to include respect; respect for all people as human beings. Systematically addressing stereotypes will provide more opportunity for all and improve our collective mental well-being and quality of life.

18. Advocacy RESPECT • We will ensure every American can exercise their right to vote. • We support healthy communities free of racial profiling and hate crimes with pathways to citizenship and comprehensive immigration and naturalization process reform. • We recognize the impact of young leaders as catalysts of change in the United States and around the world and expect a seat at all tables to ensure our voices are heard. • We support opportunities for diverse collaboration with all groups and countries in schools, corporations, agencies and organizations.

19. Advocacy RESPECT What we can do: • Vote in every election, every time. • Participate in jury duty, every time. • Register voters at every meeting • Concentrate voting efforts in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and parts of California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Michigan • Use 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline to report voting inconsistencies • Organize state capital days to speak to our legislatures about all of our issues • Boycott ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) companies and their partners • Engage in Letter-writing campaigns

20. Advocacy SOBA – State of Black America Toolkit Legislative Policy Day Toolkit All politics are local!!! Contact: advocacy@nulyp.net