The Power of Advocacy How to be an Effective Advocate and Citizen Lobbyist How to Organize an Advocacy Visit with Your Elected Official How to Write a Persuasive Letter to the Editor How to Plan a Prayer Vigil THE POWER OF ADVOCACY Who You Are. Why You Care. What You Want. It is more important than ever to meet with your local, state, and national policy makers to educate them about the vital role that refugees, immigrants, and all newcomers play in your communities. Because change takes time, meetings with policy makers should be viewed as part of a continuing process of gathering and sharing information, building relationships, and developing and carrying out advocacy strategies. Be an Advocate Developing relationships with and educating policy makers is necessary if we want to see welcoming policies and attitudes towards refugees and immigrants. A powerful constituent visit involves impacted communities and allies who join together. Having a team of leaders, staff, volunteers, employers, faith groups, and other community members who meet regularly is essential in building meaningful relationships with policy makers. It is important that policy makers understand that their constituents care about refugees and immigrants, and that refugees and immigrants are their constituents — they live, work, and contribute in their communities, obtain U.S. citizenship, and vote. Your Voice Matters Your story as a refugee, immigrant, staff member, or supporter of refugee resettlement and immigration is your most important qualification as an advocate. Talk about the way your community welcomes refugees and the positive contributions refugees make to your community. Refugees, resettlement staff, faith leaders, employers, military veterans, and supportive community members are constituents. Tell policy makers that you care about refugees and they will increasingly vote to support refugee protection and resettlement. Engaging National and State Elected Leaders At the national and state levels, individuals who oppose immigration and refugee resettlement are making their voices heard loudly and frequently to policy makers. These groups utilize anti-refugee, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim rhetoric and draft legislation to engender fear and foster hostile atmospheres for newcomers. More than 80 bills have been introduced in the last couple years that would dismantle or significantly damage the U.S. refugee resettlement program. In 2018, we faced 14 anti-refugee bills in 11 states and 10 anti-refugee/anti-immigrant bills in 6 states, as well as 11 pro-refugee bills in 6 states and 67 pro-refugee/pro-immigrant bills in 20 states. If we want policy makers to support positive legislation and oppose proposals that would turn our backs on refugees/immigrants and violate our values of welcome and hospitality, then they need to hear from refugees, immigrants, and supportive community members. Engaging Local Policy Makers It is critical for local policy makers to hear from us and affirm that they welcome refugees and immigrants. There are positive proposals that local elected officials can adopt to foster communities of welcome. City, municipal, and other local councils and commissions need to hear that their communities stand ready to help refugees/immigrants integrate and thrive. Urge your local leaders to adopt welcoming resolutions that extend hospitality to refugees and all newcomers. HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE AND CITIZEN LOBBYIST
HOW TO ORGANIZE AN ADVOCACY VISIT WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL
HOW TO WRITE A PERSUASIVE LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR
HOW TO PLAN A PRAYER VIGIL
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November 2018
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