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Speaking Truth to Power:How to be an effective advocate

Nancy Delaney, Oxfam America

June 22, 2013

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Mozambique’s Family Law

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El Salvador’s Campaign to Prevent Gender Violence

Lobbying for Social Change

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Does advocacy make a difference?

Media, Polls,Voting blocks

Email, Letter,Petition

Phone Call

In-person visit

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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 email requesting a meeting.

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Five steps to effective lobbying

1. Prepare5. Follow up

3. Educate

4. Ask 2.Connect

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Step 1: Prepare

► Read background materials

► Research your Representative – show them you know your representative

► Anticipate the reaction – what’s the context

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Useful research tools

Web resources

Read the newspaper

thomas.gov

www.house.gov

www.senate.gov

Know who they are & their interests:

► Biography

► Press Releases

► Relevant votes

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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

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► 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

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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

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Step 5: Follow up

► Send a thank-you email 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.

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Walk Thru & RecapAgenda 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?