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Page 1
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?