Empowering Volunteers to Become Advocates

Objectives Consider the context of your program and potential advocacy goals. Work together to brainstorm ways to engage volunteers in advocacy efforts specific to your program. Create and share next steps for your site.

Introductions Name Program Role Role(s) of volunteers

ELC Advocacy Background Advocacy is part of our mission: “We are a learning community of refugees, immigrants, and advocates.” So: what to do about shifting political and cultural conversations about immigration? Did we have a role?

ELC Advocacy Background TLC Grant Why volunteers? Statewide meeting convened by this national project, originally housed within HIAS Goal is to increase welcome for refugees (and immigrants) Awarded mini grants for advocacy projects (iftar dinners in St. Cloud) PAUSE on question of why volunteers: not staff, different skillsets and access to networks, unique firsthand experiences

ELC Advocacy Background Caveat: Effective advocacy is a journey. We continue to learn what it means to earn the role of ally and advocate.

What are your advocacy goals? ELC Example: Engage volunteers to increase welcome in Minnesota for immigrants and refugees.

What are your advocacy goals? What messages do you want to share? On behalf of whom? Who is your audience?

2) Who are your people? ELC Example: 11 staff members 160 volunteers annually 425 students annually Talk about how population impacts activities and focus. (education levels, religion, etc)

2) Who are your people? Who will do advocacy work with you? What are the demographics of the populations you work with/for/within?

3) How will you gather input from your people? ELC Example: Teacher surveys and meeting Student feedback in person and via survey, with translation when possible

3) How will you gather input from your people? What are the best methods of communication to reach your stakeholders? Your helpers? Your audience? Who can carry this work out?

4) What are your known resources- time, treasure, talents, etc? ELC Example: TLC grant Staff role Community partners Personal and professional networks Written into staff position to make sustainable; community partners as resources (OSH, OSLC, MLC, etc)

4) What are your known resources- time, treasure, talents, etc? What is your current capacity? What growth is possible? Who is in your networks?

5) What can you offer volunteer-advocates? ELC Examples: VAC Op-ed training Call Your Reps training Tales, Traditions, and Toast Independence Pizza Party Homeless Day on the Hill

5) What can you offer volunteer-advocates? Social media Event sharing Infographics Education

5) What can you offer volunteer-advocates? Weekly newsletter Calls to action Education

5) What can you offer volunteer-advocates? New opportunities Advocates for Human Rights presentation ESL Socials (credit to the Minnesota Literacy Council) Student Support Coordinator

5) What can you offer volunteer-advocates? Considering your goals, people, and resources, what activities or actions can you realistically create or lead?

Share action plans for your site. What next steps will you take?