Advocating for Your Cause and National Literacy Action Week

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Advocating for Your Cause and National

Literacy Action WeekStudent Coalition for Action in Literacy Education (SCALE)

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The PresenterAlison Cary-Coleman

O Event & Membership Coordinator at SCALE

O MBA/MHA student at UNC Chapel Hill

O Social justice advocate

alisoncc@live.unc.edu

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What is Advocac

y?Use the chat box to

describe what you think advocacy is.

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Defining Advocacy

O Active push for change regarding a specific cause or position

O The strategies devised or actions taken to influence decision-making on a local, state or national level to create change

O The verbal or non-verbal support of an idea or policy

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What are some ways that you advocate for

your cause?Type responses in chat box.

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Ideas for Advocacy

Social Media

Promotion

Collaborate with Other

Groups

Protest

Donate Money and Fundraisin

g

Blogging

Write to state rep

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Advocating for Your Cause

Strategic Planning

Implementation of Methods

Rally Support

Promote Your Efforts

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Strategic PlanningWhat are the key questions

our organization should ask itself before executing

advocacy projects?

(Type answers in chat box)

Strategic PlanningWhat are the key questions

our organization should ask itself before executing

advocacy projects?

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O What is the main goal we want to accomplish?

O What is the root cause of our problem?

O How can we assess our ability to impact the problem?

O Who are the stakeholders involved?

O Do any other groups currently work on this issue?

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Strategic Road Map

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Implementation of Methods

Poll Question #1: You represent a non-profit organization defending death-row inmates. Your goal is to bring awareness to your cause.

Which of these methods is most effective in reaching your goal?

A: Petition the governor to delay punishment

B: Sell pizza on campus to raise funds for your group

C: Start a social media campaign highlighting inmates wrongly convicted and executed

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Poll Question #2: You represent a breast cancer support organization that funds grants to research groups searching for a cure. You need to reach a $20,000 benchmark to fund the next research project.

Which of these methods is most effective in reaching your goal?

A: Write a press release about your organization

B: Host a 5K to raise funds

C: Invite a breast cancer survivor to campus to give a presentation to students on detection methods

Implementation of Methods

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Implementation of Methods

Awareness:- Social Media

Campaigns- Press

Releases- News/Radio

Shows- Magazine

Article Submissions

Fundraising:- Sell a product

- Host an event with entry fee or participation

fee-

Grantwriting- Request Donations

Policy Change:

- Write to a state/local

representative

- Protest- Policy Reform

Research & Proposals

Culture Change:

- Inter-group teaching

opportunities- Educational

speakers- Social events

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Case Study: UNC Dance Marathon

- Fundraiser for patients and families at NC Children’s Hospital

- - Relies on student participation

- - Need to generate awareness to recruit

volunteers

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Rally SupportO How can we attract

volunteers/supporters through our advocacy projects?

O Where can we partner with other organizations to achieve our goals?

O What resources exist to help build support?

O Example website: http://www.bcan.org/take-action/volunteers/ideas/

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Promote Your EffortsO Let the community

know what you’ve accomplished!

O Further promote participation and awareness

O Create resources for the public to learn more about your cause (i.e. website)

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National Literacy Action Week (NLAW)

January 28 – February 3, 2013

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What is NLAW?O Started in the

spirit of 1960 Greensboro sit ins

O SCALE cross-promotes and supports student social justice projects

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Past NLAW Projects

Poster Project- Kids reflect on why literacy is

important-Created posters

celebrating reading

- Hung posters around school

Financial Game of Life

- Participated in booths to earn

fake money- Had to assess

risk at each station (like board game)

Health Literacy Booth at Library- Engage library patrons in health

literacy - Provided

information on how to locate

medical information

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How To Get InvolvedO SIMPLY PLAN PROJECT and LET US

KNOW!O Access to SCALE resources and supportO Eligible to apply for mini-grants to support

your projectO Receive national publicity and attention for

your efforts O Get invited to attend the NLAW Virtual

Conference on Saturday, 2nd February

SCALE: scale@unc.edu or 919-962-1542

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Questions?Alison Cary-Coleman – alisoncc@live.unc.edu