Be an Activist and Advocate for Change

Below, you will find attached ten tips for leaders to work toward social change I got from the class I am taking at Regis. First, some words of my own.

Social engagement, for me, has been very hard. I have often shied away from conflict, especially loud conflict, and I have experienced my share of gaslighting and tone-policing most women who speak out are subjected to at one time or another in their lives. I have had people stand up for me during those times as well, and I still remember and cherish each and every time someone spoke out to help me.

Those who see "boots on the ground" calls to action result in distress, guilt, and even shame in our "inability to help:" this is for you. I am writing this today, feeling inspired to share what has helped me to break my silence and cycles of fear.

There are actually three different classifications for those who are part of a social movement, Activists, Allies, and Advocates.

The Activists are easy. We see these folks on picket lines, holding signs and chanting, inspiring massive groups of people to speak in unity. This can be a very scary thought for the introverts and softer folks among us. If this is you, there is nothing wrong with you.

The Allies are those who learn about the plight of the group for which they want to speak on a deeper, more personal level. They learn about who they are, what they care about, how they got here, and what they need. The allies listen and act when there is a chance. These interactions are more likely to be one-offs and likely have fewer participants. They make a big impact on smaller situations and individuals. These are important. There have been some good resources floating around on what it means to be an ally. The title, "ally," is not one you can give yourself, though. You have to earn it through action.

Advocates are often the administrators. I have heard the term "administrative activist" thrown around to describe them. These are the folks who write letters, organize campaigns, run the crowdsourcing, provide a plan for clothing and feeding a long-term protest, and focus on being a voice for social change among leaders and politicians. These folks are vital and often unsung heros of these movements.

My point is we need all three of these, and no matter what our strengths or areas where we can improve might be, we can be a vital part of creating social change for the groups we serve. The ten tips in this short piece are likely to be useful no matter what your mission might be.

Thank you for reading. May you be inspired today. May your heart be moved.

Be an Activist and Advocate for Change

The nonprofit sector is the second largest part of the private economy in the United States, generating almost $1 trillion per year. This sector employs nearly 10% of the workforce and in many locations that number is even greater. With such a huge potential economic engine and political power base, why are nonprofit organizations almost never taken into consideration when key community and political decisions are made? Why aren’t nonprofits more engaged in advocacy and activism?

The answer: many nonprofit leaders are afraid of the political process and/or don’t think they need to get involved in lobbying and activism. Some of them are even afraid that if they lobby they will lose their funding. The fact remains that nonprofits can only gain strength and power (as organizations, alliances, and as a sector) if they become active in the activist process.

Here are some tips on getting involved as both an advocate and an activist.

1. Every nonprofit has the right and the responsibility to become engaged and involved in activism. The IRS permits a certain percentage of a nonprofit’s income to be used to support lobbying around issues (not candidates). If you want to file as an actual lobbying organization your board of directors can easily pass a stipulation to the 501 (c) (3) called an; H election.
2. Of the $1 trillion per year going into the nonprofit sector almost $750 billion comes from the government and public sector. This is a huge amount of money and the decisions on the use of the money are determined by the elected officials and the bureaucratic structures.
3. Activism is all about leadership development. It takes an effective leader to testify in front of a house or senate committee, and to mobilize people to write letters and e-mails. Advocacy is a great training ground for the development of strong leaders.
4. Be clear when it comes to voicing what you want. Make sure you are very clear and specific when you request something from a decision-maker.
5. Research to make sure you know what you are talking about. Before you begin to write letters or testify make sure you do your homework and know the facts. It is not okay to just have a lot of passion and compassion. You need to be competent as well.
6. The media can become your best friend. A famous community organizer once told me that the “media is the great equalizer.” The media can help spread the word and help mobilize other people. But treat the media with respect and be prepared and careful when talking with a reporter.
7. Don’t be intimidated by power. This is a big issue with many nonprofit leaders who feel intimidated by elected representatives and people of authority. Remember, these representatives work for you and it is important that they listen carefully to the people who are close to the issues and solutions.
8. Don’t be afraid of power. One definition of power is “the ability to act.” Without this ability we feel helpless. In the middle of the word empowerment is power – we should all be working on helping people gain more strength, confidence, and power.
9. Mobilize your constituency. The political establishment responds to people who are committed enough to express their opinions and become involved in the democratic process. We need to demonstrate democracy by having people become active in the issues they care about through letter writing, emails, testifying, phone calls, and personal visits.
10. Have a “deep throat” working for you. When working on an issue, try to have a friend “inside the system” provide you with information that will help you map out a strategy, or time the writing of a letter, or advise you as to when it will be a good time to testify.