Creative Advocacy Strategies

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”

The cost of your education, price of your textbooks, the classroom you are in, and the state and federal financial aid you receive are just a few of the ways both politics and public policy factor into your education

Why advocate?

Because you can not afford not to!

Why advocate?

If I “like” a Facebook status about Obama, is that advocacy?

If I “poke” my U.S. Senator on Facebook, is that advocacy?

If I yell at my TV during the news, is that advocacy?

What is advocacy?

A comprehensive, multi-faceted plan that seeks to advance a specific public policy goals◦In this session, we are talking about advocacy in the the legislative arena

Advocacy Is…

Building the message Conveying the message

◦ Personal stories ◦ Facts◦ Capitol and Town Hall meetings◦ Testimony◦ Advocacy Day◦ Phone calls, emails, letters to the editor and

social media◦ Media

Tracking votes Addressing potential roadblocks Winning!

Proven Methods

Some methods are better than others.

While good advocacy requires use of a variety of tactics…

Your story is powerful

Students are our BEST advocacy resource

Now, let’s get warmed up and start coming up with creative advocacy strategies!

Student Power

If you have been involved in our advocacy efforts before◦ What has worked well for you? ◦ What should be improved?

If you have not been involved before, what barriers prevented you from getting involved?

Student Power

What can we do at the campus level to engage more people around our statewide legislative agenda?

With the changing pace of the legislature, how can we activate rapid responses from students across the state?

Student Power

How can we better train and communicate with you on legislative developments?

What questions do you have about our advocacy work?

Next Steps