Presenters:

Jackie Taylor, Advocacy Chair, National Coalition for Literacy; President Elect, Commission on Adult Basic Education.Marsha L. Tait, Grant Manager, National Coalition for Literacy

Public Policy Advocacy &YOU!

Keeping Pace

National Coalition for Literacy

NCL’s Advocacy Clearinghouse and Toolkitwww.ncladvocacy.org

What You CAN Legally Dohttp://www.ncladvocacy.org/tklegally.html

What Is Advocacy?

Advocacy includes identifying, embracing, and promoting a cause.It is any attempt to shape public opinion, and promote the interests of your community.

—The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit

Organizations

What Is Lobbying?

A specific, legally defined activity that involves stating your position on specific legislation to legislators and/or asking them to support your position.

—Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI)

Advocating Versus Lobbying

Lobbying is always advocacy. Advocacy isn’t always lobbying.

—Gear Up for Capitol Hill, ProLiteracy

Educate Policymakers

—Gear Up for Capitol Hill, ProLiteracy

Support or No Support

No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.

—Judge Gideon J. Tucker, 1866

Numbers Count!

Threshold Numbers

Helps legislators understand which issues resonate with constituents

What You CAN Do as an American

You have the right to express your views with your legislators.Legislators expect you to express them.

What You CAN Do as an Adult Educator

You have unique, valuable information.Legislators need your expertise to make well-informed decisions.

Using Your Time Wiselyhttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/tktime.html

Advocacy Leadershiphttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/tkleadership.html

Contacting Legislatorshttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/tkcontact.html

Resources:

• Who are key legislators• How to find your legislator• Tips for writing, calling, meeting

Congressman Jared Polis, Created National Adult Education & Family

Literacy Week

What to Say and Howhttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/tksay.html

Resources:

• Creating Effective Hooks

• Examples• Always make the Ask

and cinch a commitment!

You don’t get what you don’t ask for.

Who You InvolveBuilding Allies for Adult Education

http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/tkinvolve.html

Creating Responsive Networkshttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/tknetworks.html

Example: National Adult Education & Family Literacy Week Activities

Advocacy Strategieshttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/tkstrategies.html

TX Example: Literacy Day at the Capitol

Facts, Research, Reportshttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/factfinder.html

Find cut-and-paste facts on adult education and family literacy and links to the full reports

Legislative Action Centerhttp://www.capwiz.com/ncl/home/

Sign Up for Mobile Alertshttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/signup.html

NCL's Use of Social Media: Mobilizing Advocates

Example: NCL, Acting on Facebook Alertshttp://www.facebook.com/NationalCoalitionforLiteracy

Acting on Facebook AlertsStep #1: Compose

Message

Select Legislators

Specify Subject

“The Ask”

Insert Talking Points

Using the Online Alert, Cont.Closing

Enter Contact Information

Click Send Message

Twitter.comhttp://twitter.com/#!/ncladvocacy

Anatomy of a ReTweet

User NameOriginal source of information

Link to more information or photo or video

Indicates a Retweet

Avatar / Logo

Hashtag

Engaging With Legislators / Grasstops

Sample Cut-and-Paste Tweetshttp://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/advocacy/aefl_tweet.html

NCLAdvocacy Bloghttp://blog.ncladvocacy.org

1. Click on the title of the blog post where you wish to post a comment or question.

How to Post to a Blog2. Enter your comment or question in the Message field below, and click “Comment” in the bottom left corner to submit your “post”.

Your Comment Awaits “Moderation”3. Your comment will not appear right away. Instead, you will see a message like this one: “Your comment is waiting moderation.”

4. The blog moderator will review your message in light of the blog guidelines, and also ensure it is not spam. Once the blog moderator reviews and releases your comment, it will appear beneath the Message box.

Getting Started2 minutes: Get Involved.

Sign up for CAEPA + NCL updates. Bookmark the NCL Advocacy ToolkitAct on alerts. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

5 minutes: Get Others Involved. Share adult education facts and alerts. Get sample Facebook, blog, and Twitter posts you can use to update your status.

Getting Started, Cont.

10 minutes: Educate Yourself & Others. Learn / share more about why adult education is important.Get / share the facts on adult education. Learn / share about legislative priorities for adult education and family literacy at the state/federal levels. Learn / teach the differences between educating, advocating, and lobbying.

Getting Started, Cont.Ongoing: Make a Difference

Browse the NCL Advocacy Toolkit to familiarize yourself with the resources available to you.Write a blog article (guest blog or on your own blog) about the importance of adult education and family literacy in your community. Create your own local network of 5-10 individuals interested in advocating for adult education and keep them informed on adult education issues by forwarding NCL updates and alerts.Invite your legislator to visit your local adult education program.

Questions or Comments?

ContactJackie Taylor

jackie@jataylor.net Marsha Tait

mltait58@gmail.com

Thank You.