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TRAINING OTHERS

One of the most important and effective things you can do as an advocate is to train others to be advocates. Passing on the Knoweledge

CHANGING THE WORLD THROUGH ADVOCACY: A One Hour Congregational School Lesson

This lesson is designed to give people of faith an introductory understanding of advocacy. You may refer to the previous list of sacred texts to guide your group lesson.

Start with a devotion or worship celebration.

1. Pick an Issue: Ask your group to identify an issue/problem that impacts them, or people with whom they work closely.

  1. What do you see in your neighborhood/community that is wrong?
  2. What makes you care about this problem?

2. Learn about the issue:

  1. What do you already know about this issue?
  2. What sources (articles, books, people, etc.) can you reference for valid information? Consider talking directly to those that are affected by the issue. Talk to stakeholders, such as community leaders, workers and directors of community organizations.
  3. Who is impacted by the issue? How many are impacted?
  4. What could you do to help solve the problem?
  5. Create a recommendation to remedy the problem that you can bring to the table.

3. Develop a strategy:

  1. Can you galvanize support from your faith community? From outside your faith community?
  2. What organizations or community stakeholders can you partner with to work on this?
  3. What resources are available to you?
  4. What method of advocating will you use? - letter writing, e-mail action alert, personal visits to legislators or other decision-makers
  5. Identify your primary target audience. What legislators will you contact?
  6. What information do you need in order to move forward?
  7. Who will do which tasks?
  8. What is your timeline for getting things done?

4. Evaluate the strategy:

  1. Will your successes be measurable?
  2. How will you know if you’ve changed the world or at least made an impact with your strategy?

PARTICIPATE IN THE OPEN SPACE PROCESS

Center Priorities (.pdf)

Bulletin Inserts
Child Support (.pdf)
Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

    Policy Briefs
    EITC (.doc)
    TANF Child Support (.doc)
    Payday Loans (.doc)
    Healing Creation (.doc)
    Child Ombudsman (.doc)
    Affordable Housing (.doc)
    Indigent Defense (.doc)
    Minimum Wage (.doc)
    Wage & EITC (.doc)
    VA Tribes (.link)

    Actions
    Lending Petition (link)
    Title Petition (link)
    Wage Petition (link)

    Reports
    Budget Analysis (.pdf)
    Food Stamps (.doc)
    Lottery Study (link)

    FAQ's (link)

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