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Why we advocate�

Robin Troutman

Chair- Government Relations and Advocacy Committee

PCMA Capital Chapter

Deputy Director, NACDD

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Effective Advocacy

Passion

Storytelling

First-Person Narratives/Perspectives

Call to action

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�Advocacy can be…

asking your community’s zoning board for permission to have a farmer’s market in an underserved neighborhood
requesting a parking variance to allow for a meal truck to serve homeless people in a park
arranging a meeting with an elected official and then educating them about the value of a job training program that uses public funding
partnering with government agencies to use a public building for a youth program
convening community leaders at times of natural disaster or human crisis to develop solutions for the community and promote healing

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How organizations advocate

Inform and Activate Your Network
Research Impact of Policy Issues
Educate Policymakers and the Public
Join Forces to Create a Louder Voice

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Wait, I thought we couldn’t advocate as a nonprofit

not all advocacy is the same, and there are some important things to know and understand.

as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, you have a legal right to advocate. And — when your mission and the people you serve are depending on you — you have a responsibility to do so.

Legislative Lobbying: All types of nonprofits are allowed to educate policymakers, the media, and the public about issues that are important to their mission, as long as it doesn’t include information about specific candidates or pieces of legislation. It’s this type of advocacy that is the primary focus of Stand for Your Mission.
Elections & Electioneering: Lobbying means working for or against a specific piece of legislation or ballot measure. Most nonprofits are allowed to engage in a limited amount of legislative lobbying, which can be a very important way to advance — or protect — your organization’s mission and impact. When there’s a big decision being made that will affect your mission, you have a right and responsibility to weigh in.
Educate and Inform: Nonprofit organizations may engage in nonpartisan voter registration, education, and turnout activities. However, supporting or opposing a specific candidate (or set of candidates or a political party) is never allowed for 501(c)(3) organizations, and is not what we’re describing as advocacy in Stand for Your Mission.

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Learn how to express yourself well

Self-Advocacy is…

Exercising your voice.
Working with others to help get your needs met.
Listening to what others say.
Expressing yourself clearly.
Knowing your rights.
Knowing your resources.
Advocating for healthy living for yourself.

Self-Advocacy is not…

Letting others speak for you.
Commanding others to meet your needs.
Tuning out what others have to say.
Expressing yourself without clarifying your thoughts.
Relying on others to know your rights.
Not knowing about your resources.
Not advocating for your right to a healthy life.

Exercising your voice. [Voting, speaking up for yourself, speaking up for others]

Working with others to help get your needs. [Allies, parents, advocacy groups]

Letting others speak for you. [Miscommunication, different experiences/values]

Expressing yourself clearly. [Using communication in thoughtful ways.]

Commanding others to meet your needs. [Telling other people to do something without context or explanation. Assuming telling someone what you need will result in your needs being met.]

Tuning out what others have to say. [Ignoring feedback from those with common interests.] Note: Not the same as protecting from insulting or harmful behaviors.

Expressing yourself without clarifying your thoughts. [Forgetting to ask for what you need.]

Relying on others to know your rights. [e.g. Assuming a movie theater is following the law about access to public buildings. Assuming the principal at school knows what’s best for you or your child’s IEP]

Listening to what others say. [Active listening of others who both agree with you and who disagree with you.]

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Executive Branch

President & Administration

Legislative Branch

Congress

House & Senate

Judicial Branch

Courts

Opportunities for Self-Advocacy

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Goal and Tactics

Tactics:

Power Mapping
Electronic Advocacy
Letters to the Editor and OpEds
Meeting with your Elected Official
Share your story

Goal: �Build a relationship with the elected & gain support for our idea.

Our goal is to build a relationship with the elected member – congressman or senator and gain his support for our idea.

What is the best way to make that relationship? Usually when there is NOT a crisis or an ask. You have a right to get to know your elected member. They actually want to know you.

My role as a district director. Because my boss cared a lot about issues, but he cared a lot more about constituents. Why? --- Elections matter.

He got to know his constituents in various ways. He wanted to know all of them, but he paid more attention to some then others. Why? Because of TACTICS used – Tactics are an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.

Here are the BEST tactics I saw as a district director and have used as a lobbyist with success.

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Power Mapping

Bobby Scott (VA-D)

Education

Political

Military

Family

Business

Self

Attended Harvard and Boston College Law School

Alpha Phi Alpha

Donors

Democratic Party

Veterans Orgs

Active military

Constituent

Awards

Because members of congress may not relate to you – they’re different. You need to find ways to relate to them. Use the internet. Find out as much as you can about what makes them tick. Then sit down with some friends and power map.

Power mapping is a powerful tool to analyze power relationships and to help develop a strategy for creating change. Power mapping is particularly helpful in coalition building (With whom should we develop a relationship?) and in citizen lobbying (Who can we use to influence this legislator?).

The goal is to visually map out relationships between people, organizations, and institutions in a given context in order to understand the value of these relationships.

A power map reveals avenues of influence available to an organization. The method allows a group to see how a particular target is influenced and to see connections between these influences.

For example, you might want your congressman to sponsor a bill. Understanding your relationship with your congressman can help you make your case.

Take for example

Constituents: The most often mentioned influencers are “constituents.” In fact, some offices will not meet or even talk with you unless you identify as a constituent. So are you a constituent?

Staff would like to use the legal definition – resides in the congressional district.

But, smart staff and the actual elected official use the political definition Constituent – what is your RELATIONSHIP with the Congressman?

So, are you a constituent?

Check your address on the internet.

If you don’t live in his district, I want to you think about other influences you know who do.

What about your family members?

What about where you shop or where your hairdresser is or a place where a product you use is manufactured?

Knowing these relationships will help you start to build a relationship with the member of congress.

But what if you don’t? Then you might need to ask for help from people with ties. Bring family with you.

But, what about other relationships?

You can find information on the internet. Or ask your DD Council to help you.

What do we know about Bobby Scott?

Residence: Newport News

Born: April 30, 1947; Washington, D.C.

Religion: Episcopalian, Congressman Scott is a member of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Newport New

Family: Divorced

Education: Harvard U., A.B., 1969; Boston College, J.D., 1973

Military Service: Mass. National Guard, 1970-74; Army Reserve, 1974-76

Career: Lawyer

Political Highlights: Va. House, 1978-83; Va. Senate, 1983-93; Democratic nominee for U.S. House, 1986

First Elected: 1992 (13th term)

Last Elected: 2016 (66.7%)

Awards: American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) awarded Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, the Economic Power Award.

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Members of Congress

House of Representatives

Congressman, Representative, Delegate
435 Members – based on population
Two-year terms
More rules
More focused on regional issues

Senate

Senator
100 Members – 2 per state
Six-year terms
Fewer rules, more individual power
Focused on national issues
Unanimous consent
Filibuster – use of parliamentary procedures to delay or kill bills

Know the structure. It’s important to know your audience to craft your message.

House – bigger, more accountable to people because of more frequent elections

About 700k people in a district

Senate – smaller states have more power, slower process, harder to get to the senator because of gatekeepers, especially in larger states

What does that mean for your advocacy efforts?

Know the Members.

Why is it important to know the party breakdown?

House: 239 R/ 192 D / 2 Vacancies Rs control floor, votes

Senate: 54 R / 44 D / 2 I Rs are more influential, although independents can play key roles King (ME) and Sanders (VT)

Average age: House 57.8 years and Senate 61.8 years, among the oldest in U.S. history.

What does that mean? Are there generational differences in how persons with disabilities are perceived?

Diversity? Pale and Male

White 81% Congress (62% of the population) This gap has widened over time. In 1981, 94% of Congress was white, compared with about 80% of the U.S. population.�Male about 80% (19%House, 21%Senate) (51% of population)

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E-Advocacy

Pros:

Provides timely feedback to elected.
Develops a record of your view.
Keeps you up to date on issues.
Can be shared for greater impact.
Easiest way to get your voice heard.

Cons:

Need to use email and internet.
Could get a lot of emails.
Privacy concerns.

Listserv: Emails used to share information and action alerts to people who have subscribed to the listserv.

Social Media: Internet platforms to communicate. Twitter, Facebook, etc.

List Servs and Social Media

How about other groups? Then you might be on a listserve.

Why You Should Use Listservs?

-Provides timely actions that might not be in the popular media. You are “in the know” and can make timely action.

-Provides background and talking points for you so your ability to make impact is easier.

-Easiest way to get your voice heard.

List Servs:

Many organizations maintain active public policy shops which you can subscribe to receive emails updating you on the issues and giving you an opportunity to send messages directly to your member of congress. Typically called “Action Alerts” it really is the easiest way to weigh in on a usually timely issue, but you’ve got to join the list serv! The easiest way to do that is to go to the website of the group working on issues you care about and look for the “subscribe” section on their webpage. It’s usually at the very top or the very bottom but sometimes in the “contact us” section as well. It will ask you for your name and email address. Most groups are good about not spamming you, but federal law requires that you can “opt out” or stop getting the emails at any time. Here’s a typical “Action Alert” from ARC.

Signing up means you’ll receive occasional emails on an issue asking you to take immediate action online, The types of action they ask for:

Calling or emailing your elected official. The email will give you all the information you need. A summary of the legislation, taking points for why this is impoetant to the disability community, and the email or phone number for your elected official.
Sharing your story. Many groups collect stories that they gather to use during statements and testimony. This information is critically important to get to the heart of the legislator. Be aware that the information is alos public and you may be called by the group or the legislator for follow up – such as more about yoru story or asking you to testify.

Some people ask me – do the emails make a difference?

The answer is YES. But some emails are better. The personalized emails with stories tend to get more attention, so personalie your email as much as you can. Why is the issue important to you?

But even “form” emails get attention. In the office I worked in it was understood that if we got 10 or more emails the congressman wanted to know – 10 emails = 1000 people who share that view.

Members of Congress LOVE Social Media!!!

Social Media

-Provides a massive platform for networking

-Provides a cost-effective way to connect with others to promote a common cause

-Offers efficient resources to inform and collect support from the community

-Connects you with almost every lawmaker who uses social media-another pathway to advocate

-Connects you with almost every reporter who uses social media-another pathway to spread the word

Remember these social media rules of conduct:

You can have an opinion; however, be articulate and professional in any tweet, retweet, or post.

If things go negative, it’s okay to stop engaging. Consider the impact on your overall advocacy efforts to help make a decision.

The moment you publish anything on social media, it’s out there forever.

TIPs

Follow policymakers at all levels on various social media. Understanding what your federal, state, and local policymakers are saying on social media will help you craft the speaking points and messages you'll need to communicate with them on your issues. Pay attention and track what they're working on; what kinds of things they like to talk/tweet about, and what their positions are. For example, you may learn that your member of Congress likes to tweet out photos of his or her recent visit to a school. You could use this as a way to ask your representative to come visit your own school.

Use social media to establish relationships with members of the media, especially on Twitter. Reporters have massive followings, and they're always looking for a good story that furthers their following even more. Use these relationships to tell your story and share good news and/or concerns with your community.

These are Facebook sites.

If you “follow” the site, you will get news whenever they post and you will be able to comment on their posts.

The Virginia Board for People with Disablities posts opportunities to reach out to your elected officials through action alerts but also public events.

Following your member of congress will give you a sense of his priorities. Some members, like Bobby Rush, allow you to comment on their posts and tell them directly how you feel.

People ask me, do members of congress really pay attention to social media.

�The answer is YES! The comms person gives a report to the member usually every day! Even tweets.

There are a lot of social media platforms, but if you are new, try starting with Facebook or twitter. You can get training on these platforms online and for free. Or ask your DD council to help you.

[Go to Bobby Scott's facebook page – submit comment.]

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E-Advocacy – Social Media

Twitter:@BobbyScott

Pros:

Keeps you up to date on issues.
Direct communication with elected.

Cons:

Need to use internet.
Privacy concerns.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepBobbyScott

Members of Congress LOVE Social Media!!! People ask me, do members of congress really pay attention to social media. The answer is YES! The coms person gives a report to the member usually every day! Even tweets.

There are a lot of social media platforms, but if you are new, try starting with Facebook or twitter. You can get training on these platforms online and for free. Or ask your DD council to help you.

Why Social Media?

-Provides a massive platform for networking

-Provides a cost-effective way to connect with others to promote a common cause

-Offers efficient resources to inform and collect support from the community

-Connects you with almost every lawmaker who uses social media-another pathway to advocate

-Connects you with almost every reporter who uses social media-another pathway to spread the word

Remember these social media rules of conduct:

-You can have an opinion; however, be articulate and professional in any tweet, retweet, or post.

-If things go negative, it’s okay to stop engaging. Consider the impact on your overall advocacy efforts to help make a decision.

-The moment you publish anything on social media, it’s out there forever.

TIPs

Follow policymakers at all levels on various social media. Understanding what your federal, state, and local policymakers are saying on social media will help you craft the speaking points and messages you'll need to communicate with them on your issues. Pay attention and track what they're working on; what kinds of things they like to talk/tweet about, and what their positions are. For example, you may learn that your member of Congress likes to tweet out photos of his or her recent visit to a school. You could use this as a way to ask your representative to come visit your own school.

Use social media to establish relationships with members of the media, especially on Twitter. Reporters have massive followings, and they're always looking for a good story that furthers their following even more. Use these relationships to tell your story and share good news and/or concerns with your community.

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In-Person Meetings and Town Halls

How to have a successful meeting:

Step 1: Locate contact information for the Congressional office at https://whoismyrepresentative.com/

Step 2: Call or email the office to set up an appointment and identify the right staff person

Step 3: Plan out what you are going to say and who is going to say what if you are going in a group

Step 4: Plan your travel to the office

Step 5: After the meeting, send a thank you email and any follow-up information

Pros:

Accountability
Build relationship-Get the picture!

Cons:

Logistics.
Time and effort.
COVID

Connecting with your elected officials about issues in a face-to-face meeting is a great way to develop a relationship and influence the positions they take on issues important to you.

Tips and Tricks

One of the best times to plan for an in-district meeting is during a Senate or House recess. This time is designated for legislators to meet with their constituents in their home states or districts. They call these recesses “district work weeks” for a reason!
Take pictures outside of the office or during the meeting with the elected official if allowed. You can share the pictures on social media and send them to DD Council.
Personalize your comments and provide local context — elected officials often prioritize issues that directly affect their constituents. Personal stories and local examples help illustrate why your issue is important.
The legislator’s response won’t always be clear, so listen carefully. What is the person saying about the issue? What questions or concerns do they have that might be answered? Pay attention to the direct and indirect statements of support or opposition.

If you don’t know the answer to a question your legislator asks, say you’ll find out and then follow up. Contact our national office to assist with answering these questions.

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Letters to the Editor and OpEds

Pros:

Educating the public.
Visibility.

Cons:

Logistics.
Requires more time and effort.

Do you enjoy writing? Letters to the editor and op-eds are especially effective in local “free” community papers.

Similar to social media, members of congress receive reports or “press clips” daily. You can also send your LTE or OPED directly to your member of congress even if it isn’t printed!

LTE : Usually written in direct response to an article, editorial, op-ed, or column that the target paper has printed.

OP-ED (or “opposite editorial”): Articles devoted to commentary and opinions. Authors are not officially affiliated with the newspaper and can range from state legislators, local business owners and interested local citizens. Editors usually have editorial calendars the month before, so getting your desired column into the paper without a newsworthy hook can be challenging.

Tips on effective letters to the editor and op-eds:

Research the guidelines – usually in paper or on website.
Most papers have a length limit on LTEs and op-eds. LTEs are usually 250 words or less. Op-eds are usually around 700 words, though this varies by outlet. Also find out where to submit your content (typically via e-mail or through an online form).
Pick a timely topic and find a local angle – use your story.
Most papers prefer printing opinion articles written by a local authority or community leader. Signing your LTE as a DD Council member or working with DD Council may make it more likely to be chosen.
Do not send the same letter to two competing papers in the same circulation area or many copies of an identical letter to a single paper.
Close with a call to action.
Op-eds can have shared bylines. Work with yoru DD Council or other organzations or elected officials to really drive your point home. Team up with someone who has her own story. Brainstorm ways that a joint op-ed can help your article gets chosen and published.

Example from DallasNews – print and online. Our DD Act sister organization, Disability Rights Texas has this letter to the editor published.

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How do we know if our advocacy worked?

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THANK YOU!!!

#PCMACC

#GMID2023 #MEETINGSMATTER