Moving Upstream to Transform Communities: Advocating for Policy Solutions

Moving Upstream to Transform Communities Series: How to Advocate for Policy Solutions

This 3-part policy workshop is meant to provide advocates, activists & movements the knowledge and tools to increase their capacity to effectively engage in policy advocacy with a lens toward diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over the course of this series, participants will be provided an actionable framework to define opportunities for change, identify policy levers, engage community stakeholders, and influence policymakers. Each interactive session will allow space for participants to examine how the provided concepts are relevant to their work and can be applied at the local level. This learning experience will impart knowledge and processes to use policy advocacy to build resilient, thriving communities.

Session 1. Advocacy 101 – Advocating for policy changes can be intimidating, but it does not have to be. There are accessible ways to build power and elevate the voices of community members to work towards a desired outcome. This session will discuss the importance of educating and engaging community members, stakeholders, the media, and policymakers in advocacy efforts. Participants will learn effective strategies for grassroots organizing, communications, and lobbying campaigns and how to develop persuasive messages.