Advocacy is about making your voice heard, or speaking out on behalf of those whose voice has been silenced…
-to others in a community
-to the media
-to politicians
Strategies include creating social networks, community organizing, lobbying, education, fundraising, and other advocacy “tools”.
• When change needs to occur, advocacy has a role to play
• Have a clear objective- be able to identify your issue.
• Create concise, clear presentations to explain your position.
• Know your audience- different groups may respond to different messages.
• Consider forming coalitions to strengthen your collective voice.
• Aim to give more than facts- empower others to action
• give specific examples of how to proceed
• Offer solutions and advocate for them!
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD - these are just a few brief examples of ways to get involved! There are many more!
Register to vote and educate yourself and others on election issues.
Write Op-Ed pieces and Letters to the editor
Write, telephone, and visit your elected representatives:
U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 (ask for your Senator's and/or Representative's office)
Address for Representatives: www.house.gov
Address for Senators: www.senate.gov
White House comment line: 202-456-1111
Email the White House: President@WhiteHouse.gov.
Fax the White House at 202-456-2461.
Some helpful references:
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: www.un.org/en/documents/udhr
Social Medicine Portal: www.socialmedicine.org
Social Medicine Journal: www.socialmedicine.info
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
People’s Health Movement: www.phmovement.org
Health Care for America NOW!: www.healthcareforamericanow.org
Physicians for a National Health Plan: www.pnhp.org
Cure This!: www.curethis.org
Global Health Watch: www.ghwatch.org
National Physicians’ Alliance: www.npalliance.org
WAR AND VIOLENCE
Global: Physicians for Social Responsibility: www.psr.org
Physicans for Human Rights: www.physiciansforhumanrights.org
Emergency: www.emergencyusa.org
Code Pink: www.codepinkalert.com
Office of the Americas: www.officeoftheamericas.org
Medact: www.medact.org
School of the Americas Watch: www.soaw.org
No More Victims: www.nomorevictims.org
IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights L.A.: www.chirla.org
Instituto de Educacian Popular del Sur de California: www.idepsca.org
