Advocating Excellence for FCCLA February 5, 2014 Rachel VanPelt, National Consultant Team

What is Advocacy? Advocacy is: – The act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending – Educational movement

Advocacy vs Lobbying Lobbying is: – To solicit or try to influence the votes of members of a legislative body – Communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope to influence a decision

Educational movement FCCLA members should take an advocacy approach in our efforts AdvocacyLobbying Communicate with legislative representatives Political movement aimed at asking for funding and support

Examples of Advocacy Local Level: Have a local leader sign a proclamation for FCCLA week Invite a local leader to speak at a fundraiser, program, or community service event Recognize local leaders at a celebration dinner Speak at a school board or a town council meeting

Examples of Advocacy State Level: Attend state legislator day at the state capitol Visit state elected officials to share information about FCCLA and Family & Consumer Sciences programs

Examples of Advocacy National Level: Send a letter and information to your congressional representative and senator Attend FCCLA’s Capitol Leadership in Washington, DC

Capitol Leadership FCCLA members and advisers: develop leadership skills participate in service-learning opportunities advocate for Career and Technical Education gain valuable resources to take back home Mark your calendar: October 12-15, 2014 in Washington, DC

Steps to Advocacy

Identify Issues Relevant Current Base on an actual need Level: local, state, national, or global? Research all sides of the issue

Identify Stakeholders Who is affected or can be affected by the issue?

Identify Target Audience The specific audience or demographics for which the advocacy message is designed: – Who should you direct your efforts toward? – Research past opinions and actions of the target audience – How can you best reach the target audience?

Elevator Speech Time may be limited to meet with your target audience Create a short and concise statement of your view and goals for the issue

Leave Behind Create a document with information about the issue to leave with individuals following a meeting Summarize and remind them of your request

Partnerships Which individuals or groups who hold similar interests and values? Who can provide support for your efforts?

Media Involvement Newspaper Radio Television Internet Social Media

Integrating Advocacy into the Classroom

Advocacy STAR Event Students can demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and ability to actively identify a local, state, national, or global concern, research the topic, identify a target audience and potential partnerships, form an action plan, and advocate for the issue in an effort to positively affect a policy or law.

Implementing in the Classroom Choose a topic that relates to curriculum Determine issue type – Local, state, national, global? Establish target audience Practice case study scenarios

Promote & Publicize FCCLA! STAR Event Students use communications skills and techniques to educate their schools and communities about FCCLA with the intention of growing chapters and strengthening FACS and FCCLA programs.

National FCCLA Week 2014 February 9-15