Ten Tips for Literacy Advocacy
From LiteracyTentWiki
Ten Tips for Literacy Advocacy
David J. Rosen
1. Form a state public policy committee. Meet monthly in person, by phone or by web meeting.
2. Keep (accurate) waiting lists.
3. Develop a postcard campaign to report to legislators the number of people who are on waiting lists. http://alri.org/Rosen/advocacy/advocacydocs.html#postcard
4. Collect annual data by legislative district on:
- which adult literacy programs are in the district,
- how many students are enrolled,
- how many students “complete,” and
- how many are on waiting lists.
Meet with state reps and senators and give them this information.
5. Every year, do a spring “meet and greet” http://www.mcae.net/downloads/MeetandGreet20020320.pdf where programs invite their legislators to visit and talk with students and/or visit their office in the legislature.
6. Hold legislative briefings,http://www.mcae.net/TakeStudentsToStateHouse.pdf testify at the state capital and include adult literacy in state legislation.
7. Influence candidates for office. Ask a question about adult literacy in debates, forums, caucuses, house parties. See http://www.litpresident.org for good questions to ask presidential candidates. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California have good questions to ask gubernatorial and state legislator candidates.
8. Do a media campaign.
9. Frame the message right. See Frame the Message
10. Engage younger colleagues in advocacy – mentor them.
