2015 Advocacy Skills Training

In this workshop we will learn how personal narratives can influence policymakers and peers, mobilizing communities and changing the world. We will cover the basics of a lobby meeting and how to organize your time during your meeting. Next we will go in depth into how to craft an effective personal narrative that will move people to action on social justice issues.

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Getting the right message into the media at the right time amplifies our impact as advocates. This workshop will focus on the why’s and how’s of earning media coverage of your campaigns, events, and spokespeople—as well as writing tips for op-eds, letters to the editor, and social media.

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This workshop will give an introduction to community organizing methodology with discussion of the continuum of action and how to integrate organizing models to your current work. The fundamentals of organizing for social change cut across all issues and can help organizations and congregations be more effective in building local power to change social policy. We will focus on the importance of strategic relationship building in community organizing work. The workshop will provide new tools in recruitment, team building, and leadership development, addressing the importance of one-to-ones as an essential piece to building collective power to win concrete improvements in people’s lives. There will be specific attention to the importance of the role of faith in building social movements.

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In this workshop, two experts from the trenches will discuss obstacles in and opposition to criminal justice and sentencing reform, including which messages work (and don’t), who is still opposing reform (and why), how to build a coalition that wins over lawmakers, why time is on our side, and how we can create a long-term campaign for change. We’ll discuss the new coalitions developing on criminal justice and sentencing reform and how local faith groups can bridge the gaps between opponents and supporters of those reforms at home and in Washington.

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This presentation is designed for those who have a general awareness of, interest in or responsibility for the online promotion of advocacy efforts. It will review key strategic decision points in promoting a cause, initiative, campaign or event. It also will address ways various types of content – text, images, videos – can be leveraged for maximum effect, with a focus on websites, blogs and social media. There also will be opportunities to discuss the ongoing management and optimization of these efforts, and how to measure success – as well as to share insights and questions from your own experience.

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In this skills workshop, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service’s Access to Justice department will walk participants through America’s vast immigration detention system and offer skills and opportunities to take action. They will give background on both the migrant adult detention system and the recently revived and inhumane practice of family detention. After providing context for these practices, presenters will offer concrete opportunities to get involved, including LIRS’s detention visitation ministry program.

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Although they have paid their debt and served their time, individuals with a criminal history are too often denied the opportunity at redemption and turned away from legitimate employment, which would help engage them in productive activities that improve the quality of life for everyone and enable them to become productive members of society. In efforts to eliminate employment barriers for formerly incarcerated people, public entities (local municipalities and state governments), as well as corporations and business, must “ban the box” or remove the question about criminal history from the initial job application forms. In this workshop faith communities will learn how they can get involved at the local and national level with the “Ban the Box” Campaign and other reentry initiatives.

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Art-making is a powerful way of building community. In this workshop, liturgical artist and activist Mary Button will share ideas and stories for participatory art projects appropriate for faith communities interested in using the creative arts for peacemaking. She will also lead participants in contemplative, justice centered art practices that will enrich the prayer lives of individuals and churches.

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