1. Advocacy Training Know Your Power National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast June 18-20, 2013

2. What You Need to Know What is Advocacy? Why Be An Advocate? How to Advocate What Comes Next?

3. 3 WHAT IS ADVOCACY? To influence public opinion and/or policy; to play an important part in the development of political and social systems.

4. WHY BE AN ADVOCATE? Government is in our everyday lives Stand up for our values Educate elected officials Help those that do not have a voice Exercise your freedom You are a leader in your community You represent the largest growing population in the U.S. Religious community is influential

5. HOW TO ADVOCATE Pick your issue Create a clear message Organize leaders from your church Schedule a meeting with your elected official Organize supporters to call, write, and fax your elected officials. Track your issue and follow up!

6. THE “MEETING” Before your meeting Schedule meeting with your elected official at least 2-4 weeks in advance Get 5-10 leaders from your community to attend the meeting Send materials about your issue to the elected official’s staff Choose one person to be the ‘leader’ of the meeting Confirm meeting a few days before the scheduled date During your meeting Be early and prepared Introduce yourself to staff When meeting the elected official, have your ‘leader’ begin the meeting Have each person introduce themselves – be brief and to the point. Give member/staff a folder of information and your business card Thank them for the meeting!

7. WHAT’S NEXT? Send thank you letter to the elected official Schedule a meeting with the staff in your state/district Invite the member to your church to speak and/or to any church events Build a coalition of supporters to help your cause/ raise awareness in your community When the time comes, organize a group to make phone calls, send letters and faxes to your member’s office in D.C.

8. CONCLUSION You do have power - make your voice heard! Build a relationship with your elected official Organize your community Advocate for your issues If not now, when? If not us, who?