2016 Advocacy Skills Training

Advocacy is often understood as raising a voice on behalf of others, but by integrating the values of subsidiarity into advocacy we can empower others to be agents of transformation for their own communities. Water With Blessings integrates subsidiarity, solidarity, sustainability and spirituality into a distinctive model for global water solutions, in which women are empowered as leaders, and mothers are raised up as advocates and agents for compassion and clean water. In this workshop, participants will encounter the key precepts of Water With Blessings, and be led to creative consideration of how the WWB model might inform other aid intervention programs for similar outcomes.

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This workshop will explore the power of narrative and art-based approaches to open people up in new and inspiring ways to the very concrete work of advocacy in our world today. We will use music to draw out worldviews that shape our relationships with our neighbors. Participants will learn practical ways of connecting story and song to advocacy issues.

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The state of hunger facing millions of people across the United States relates to race, class and power. It’s election season; a time when our elected officials are making promises, priorities and plans. Let’s seize the incredible opportunity elections present us to highlight how race, class and power contribute to hunger. Join in this dynamic discussion about the church’s role in elections, political campaigns and town hall gatherings and our Christian witness. What basic legal issues must congregations understand around elections? Hear best practices that get the attention of candidates at forums and debates. How is the Vote to End Hunger campaign influencing the 2016 presidential candidates to end hunger, alleviating poverty, and opening discussions around class, race and power in the United States? Come learn, share and prepare together!

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Myths and sound bytes are drowning out the true story of our broken immigration system and the blessings immigrants bring to the US. Join us in learning how our current immigration system functions through a simulation where you will receive a new identity of an individual wishing to immigrate to the US and try to navigate the US immigration system. Advocates must understand how our legal immigration system works to be able to change it. Learn how to answer the question, “Why don’t they just get in line?” and how to help change the conversation so that 12 million voices can be heard. After we learn how it works, we can then discuss how to work towards a more just system.

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This interactive session is designed to help new lobbyists prepare an effective meeting for their upcoming trip to the Hill. Beginners will come to understand the ins-and-outs of running impactful lobby visits as we explain all of the necessary steps in the lobbying process. Newcomers will also learn about the “secret ingredient” of lobbying—personal stories—that has been key in NETWORK’s lobbying successes. The session will also include space to practice lobbying with fellow participants. Participants will leave with the confidence and knowledge to conduct strategic visits both on Capitol Hill and in-district on issues about which they are passionate.

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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 coverage media coverage of your campaigns, events and spokespeople — as well as messaging and writing tips for op-eds, letters to the editor, and social media.

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As organizers, it’s crucial for our movement to always remember to build and strengthen our base. ‘One-on-ones’ is our best tool to do just that. One-on-ones are used to build relationships, uncover self-interest, develop clarity, and gather information, and they eventually lead to stronger, more accountable, more powerful organizations. In this workshop, you will learn how to conduct a one-on-one, get a chance to practice, and leave with some tools to continue your power-building back home.

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While statistics and fact sheets are powerful tools, a personal story really has the power to transform a policymaker’s perspective and inspire them to make a difference. Last summer, RESULTS launched our Experts on Poverty project, bringing a cohort of fifteen participants to Washington for training on telling their own stories in various advocacy settings. They have been working hard to share their own critically important perspectives on nutrition programs and poverty in America back home in the media, with elected officials, and in community events with tremendous success. This session will share some of the best practices from the Experts on Poverty as participants develop their own story using the Self/Us/Now framework for conversation with politicians, the media, and in community outreach. We’ll also review how to adapt your advocacy pitch for brief opportunities using a “laser talk” – perfect for those heading to Capitol Hill.

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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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This workshop will focus on efficiently building the coalition you need for issue advocacy in any context. Tapping into strategic networks, facilitating collaboration between like-minded groups, building power. This workshop will cite state case studies + strongly encourage opportunities for potential collaboration.

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This highly interactive workshop is geared towards clergy, adjudicatory staff, lay leaders and activists (desperately) seeking balance, inspiration and best practices in leadership, advocacy and congregational development. The goal of this workshop is for participants to reflect on, share and learn about the intersections of powerful leadership practices, dynamic activism and building our spiritual communities.

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