Based on Five Rules of Effective Advocacy

By Nancy Amidei, University of WashingtonCivic Engagement Project

Don’t Be Scared of Big Capitol Buildings

Presented by Hunger Action LA

on behalf of new advocates everywhere

Advocacy just means speaking up!!

End Hunger ! Even if you’re

shy you can be an advocate!

OR IF YOU’RE NOT SHY, IT JUST TAKES A SHOE!

I can't advocate through my job, how do I organize advocacy efforts?"

You may not be allowed to directly advocate but may be able to train parents, clients, etc to do sob

Many nonprofits do not realize they can do more advocacy than they believe

Your group can take the 501h election using IRS Form 5768

B BUT WAIT A MINUTE, YOU SAY---------------

Framing Your Issue in Simple Terms

For example: Why are People Hungry?

They Don’t Have Enough

Money to Buy Food

And why is that?

They Have To Pay

Too Much Money

for • Rent• Medicine• Gasoline• Food

Why Should Nutrition and Exercise be supported?

Because…..

Because…..

Because….. Because…..

How Policies Are Made

The federal, state, and local governments can write bills and pass them as law

Administrators of programs can make decisions that don’t involve making new laws

All governments have budgets that can prioritize health, human services, and other issues we care about

What Level of Government and what Process?

City LA: 15 councilmembers + Mayor County LA: 5 supervisors State Senate: 40 Assembly: 80Bills proposed and passed through committees, legislature and

signed/vetoed by Governor. Budget deadline end of June. Adminstrative changes can also be made in programs

Federal House: 435 Senate: 50 Similar to state process but less structured of a calendar

Who ya gonna call?

• Step 1:

• Step 2:

• Step 3:

www.lavote.net

Locate District ByName or Address

VOTING ANDELECTIONS

You should see something like this

District Look Up by Address

Click here for help and examples.

Home Number House number of residence address. (No Fraction)

Street Name Do not include street type (ave., st., blvd., etc.)

SUBMITRESET

THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!

What group do you represent?

How many people are members, or

how many people do you serve?

What other groups could you unite with

to build a strong coalition?

THE 30 SECOND VERSION

“Hi my name is ___________. I am with ____ and we represent _______. I live in your district. I want you to support/oppose_______________________”.

BREAK TIME

LOTERIA

A CAMPAIGN: THREE AUDIENCES TO KEEP IN MIND

Elected Officials and Their Staff

Other Voters

The Media

Stories

Stories bring issue to life Stories have changed minds when statistics

and reason haven’t worked

IS IT OKAY?

……to meet with a staff person instead of the real legislator?

…..to not know everything if they ask you a question?

……to leave materials behind?

The Advocacy Team

FacilitatorStory Teller“Ask” PersonTime KeeperNote Taker

Besides Legislative Visits

Press ConferencePanelInviting Officials To a Tour

TOP SECRET ADVOCACY TIPS

REVIEW THEIR RECORDS

KNOW THEIR INTERESTS

FIND A CHAMPION

FIND OUT WHO OWES WHO

AMERICAN ADVOCATE COMPETITION!!

ADVOCATE