Engaging Justice: Advocacy Skills Training for Social Change Kelly Benkert Seattle University Center for Service & Community Engagement

Agenda Context and History Overview of Training Nuts and Bolts of the Training Sample Modules: Identifying a Problem & Messaging Issues in Implementation Q & A

Two Feet of Justice Charity Direct Social Services Justice Social Change Help individuals meet their present needs: - Serve in shelters, food banks, meal programs - Sponsor a refugee family - Mentor and tutor - Donate food, clothing, money Correct long-term or root problems in communities: - Participate in community self-help projects - Advocate for just public policies - Develop local community enterprises

History & Context Catholic Relief Services – 2 year partnership In house trainings Participants Facilitators On campus partnerships: Office of the Provost Magis: Alumni Committed for Mission Center for Service and Community Engagement Faculty

Learning Outcomes By the end of the training, the participant will be able to: Understand the dynamics of political power, how to change those dynamics, and determine how and where to engage in policy change for social justice Identify and analyze problems Use tools and processes for contextual and problem analysis Apply research, planning, and organizing strategies to engage and empower citizens and grassroots groups Understand and be able to apply different influence and engagement strategies and activities used in advocacy, and understand which strategies work best and when Apply the basics of communication and persuasion for advocacy

Agenda – Day 1 (Saturday) 8:00 – 9:00 – Breakfast, Welcome, & Introductions 9:00 – 10:00 – Defining Advocacy & Power 10:00 – 10:30 – Establish Interest Groups 10:30 – 11:30 – Contextual Analysis 11:30 – 12:15 – Lunch 12:15 – 1:30 – Identifying and Analyzing Problems 1:30 – 3:15 – Targeting & Mapping Power plus Choosing Strategies and Tactics 3:15 – 3:30 – Break 3:30 – 5:30 – Developing Effective Messages 5:30 – 5:45 – Wrap-Up & Evaluation

Agenda – Day 2 (Sunday) 9:00 – 9:30 – Breakfast 9:30 – 10:15 – Recap of yesterday & Report-Outs from yesterday 10:15 – 11:15 – Lobbying 11:15 – 11:30 – Evaluations 11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch 12:00 – 1:00 – Coalition Building 1:00 – 1:30 – The Basics of Advocacy Planning/Getting Started 1:30 – 2:00 – Moving into the Future

Nuts and Bolts of the Training Issue-based Active Learning Model Manual Recruitment Funding Facilitation Training trainers

From Issues to Problems… Human Trafficking Domestic Violence Rape Unequal Pay Sexual Harassment Gender Violence

Possible Consequences Finding your solution Problem: High levels of rape and sexual assault on college campuses Possible Causes Possible Consequences Possible Solutions · Strong patriarchal system · Gender discrimination and subordination · Alcohol use · Unhealthy expressions of masculinity · Lack of respect for women · Assumptions made about a person based on their attire · Assumed obligations - the attacker feels entitled to sex as a result of a date or party · Marginalization · Low self-esteem of survivor · STIs or unplanned pregnancy · Psychological trauma · Silencing · Culture of blaming the victim based on attire or actions · Community feels unsafe · Low academic performance · Preventative education for both women and men · Creating spaces for exploration of healthy masculinity · Alcohol regulations · Tough sanctions for offenders · Changing of cultural norms around gender , sexism, and rape/assault · Increased survivor support  

Effective Advocacy Messages Think with your butt The messenger is important Tell a story 6 important features: Defines the problem Links it with important values A specific ask for a specific audience Specific ‘proofs’ to convince audience (shiny bauble) Conveys urgency & importance Slogan or memorable phrase

The Girl Effect http://www.girleffect.org/

Analysis What is the general issue? What is the specific problem they are trying to address with the video? Who is the video trying to persuade and what are they trying to get them to do? Is this the right person/right ask? What will happen if people do what the video wants them to do? Can you think of better ways to do it?

Issues in Implementation Evaluation & Assessment How much do we train vs. how much do we support? Use of skills for “nefarious” purposes What happens after the training? Sustainability

Kelly Benkert Seattle University Center for Service and Community Engagement benkertk@seattleu.edu 206-296-2327