How to be an effective Community Advocate

Personal Attributes
Commitment
Sustainability
Longevity

Advocacy Steps

Collect your data on the issue
Add stories and voices
Gain supporters around the message and solutions
Engage public and leaders

Collect Data on the Issue

Define the problem
What data is available on the issue
Research (who is affected, demographics, statistics, etc.)
Newspaper articles, books and journals
Who is working on the issue and who is opposed to the issue
What are possible solutions or what needs to be changed

Add Voices and Stories

Find people who are willing to talk about their stories and experiences
Maintain a database of people who are willing to be interviewed by the press and form groups for meeting with decision makers
Identify leaders who can be champions for the issue and advance your agenda

Rally Supporters

Create messages of various lengths: One sentence, 7 seconds (elevator speech), Five minute (walking a block with someone), One pager – simple statements about the issue and what needs to be done
Know your audience
Develop an advocacy plan with strategies and action items
Share the advocacy plan with supporters
Assign responsibility of key tasks to members
Keep supporters informed about action plan and progress
Celebrate the small and large successes

Engage Public and Leaders

Identify public institutions that can support the issue
Identify the leaders you will meet with to drive your agenda messages
Have a meeting before the meeting
Never leave a meeting without an “ask” (Can you do X or Y for us?)
Use the media to get the messages out into the public and to unusual allies

Other Advocacy Tips

Learn the Legislative Process in your state
Learn the language or “lingo” of government
Get to know your representatives in both the State and the Assembly
Write to them frequently and keep them informed

Effective Letters

Are individually written or typed rather than a form letter that you just sign
States your position in your introduction paragraph (support, oppose, wish to amend)
Are limited to one topic
Include the bill # (if responding to a bill)
Have the correct name, title and address of the representative you writing to

How to Stay Well for the Work Ahead

Get plenty of rest
Good nutrition
Exercise
Reduce stress factors or deal with them
Stay in-tune with your emotions
Set goals and reflect on where you are going
Schedule time for yourself