Page 1 Speaking Truth to Power: How to be an effective advocate Nancy Delaney, Oxfam America June 22, 2013
Page 2 Mozambique’s Family Law
Page 3 El Salvador’s Campaign to Prevent Gender Violence
Lobbying for Social Change
Page 5 Does advocacy make a difference? Media, Polls, Voting blocks , Letter, Petition Phone Call In-person visit
Page 6 Getting a meeting ► Call your Member’s office – request to speak with the scheduler ► Explain who you are and why you want a meeting ► Staff may ask for a fax or requesting a meeting.
Page 7 Five steps to effective lobbying 1. Prepare 5. Follow up 3. Educate 4. Ask 2.Connect
Page 8 Step 1: Prepare ► Read background materials ► Research your Representative – show them you know your representative ► Anticipate the reaction – what’s the context
Page 9 Useful research tools Web resources Read the newspaper thomas.gov Know who they are & their interests: ► Biography ► Press Releases ► Relevant votes
Page 10 Step 2: Connect ► Thank staff person for their time ► Identify yourself as a constituent ► Explain why you care about women and girls – “ I believe all women deserve to be self- sufficient.” ► Tell them what you want to talk about, e.g. the specific piece of legislation
Page 11 ► No Need to be an Expert - Talk about what you know ► Present the issue – if possible, offer personal/local/state angle – always helps ► Give factual information – have at least one key fact on hand. “In some rural areas of Nepal, 72 % of women are illiterate” ► Be concise Step 3: Educate
Page 12 Step 4: Make the “Ask” ► Be clear what you want your representative to do ► Ask your Senator/ Representative to vote for a bill, co-sponsor specific legislation, etc. ► Ask where your legislator stands on your issue ► Ask for a commitment
Page 13 Step 5: Follow up ► Send a thank-you or letter to the staff you met ► Restate important points discussed ► Include commitments made ► Send any information the staffer/Member requested. If you don’t follow up, it is like the meeting never happened.
Page 14 Walk Thru & Recap Agenda for meeting Connect| Start with a personal connection. Why is this issue important to you? Educate| Deliver your talking points Ask | Ask them to commit to a particular action. Follow-up | Write a thank- you note and follow up with them. Prepare I Do your homework Have something nice to say about something the Congressperson has done in his or her district. Bring a paper and pen to take notes. If going with others, practice your roles Have two to three talking points written down Be prepared to answer questions about your position, but remember– you don’t have to be an expert! Have two leave-behind packets prepared. Be flexible – expect the unexpected.
Questions?