Advocacy Tools

"An authentic faith always implies a deep desire to change the world." -Pope Francis, Homily on March 1, 2014 in the Church of Gesu

Advocate Effectively

Download or print the National Advocacy Center’s Advocacy Handbook to find information about:
  • How decisions in Washington affect Good Shepherd agencies and communities
  • How you – not the powerbroker – can influence Congress
  • Tips on effective letter writing, lobbying, and making phone calls to your Members of Congress
  • How a bill becomes a law and your role
  • Concrete ways of integrating advocacy into your busy days

Visit Congress at Home

​A face-to-face meeting with your Members of Congress, or a key member of their staff, is the most effective way to lobby your views. Taking the time to make a personal visit provides legislators with solid, real life evidence of the importance of a particular issue to their constituents. Moreover, discussions about pending legislation can educate and, ideally, influence their position.

Use Social Media

​If you’re not on social media, you are missing a core and active constituency who want to be heard and want to be just. Help them help you.

Call for Action on Facebook
To start, make sure to like our page on Facebook and select "Get Notifications" by clicking the Like box again.

Make a Video for Youtube

Share Photos from Rallys & Marches on Instagram

Join Twitter
Be sure to also follow us: @NAC4Justice.

Strategies for Social Success
  • Be bold but respectful.
  • Link to background facts or articles.
  • Use photos or infographics or memes.
  • Use popular hashtags to hitch a ride on Twitter and expand beyond your usual audience and followers.
  • Make sure your lawmakers and media see your tweet by including them in your message with their handle.
  • Create a "Twitter Storm" – Invite other organizations or groups or friends to tweet about an issue. Prepare sample tweets in advance and share with storm members being sure to include hashtags and handles. LiveTweet during the event – an hour or two is a good length.
  • Call for action.

Organize the Grassroots

Host a teach-in
Organize a teach-in at your town hall, parish, organization or another community space where speakers can talk to an audience about your issue of concern.

Set up information tables at local events, flea markets, festivals and/or fairs related to your issue.
Have letters or petitions for them to sign and materials for people to take-away.

Hold a call-in or letter writing day in a local community space.
This could be organized prior to an important vote in Congress. What you’ll need:
  • Phone numbers and addresses of your Members of Congress
  • Talking points to guide the content of your phone message and letters
  • Perhaps a sample letter to guide letter writers

Hold a rally, vigil or parade by your Member of Congress’s district or state office.

Involve your religious community.
For ideas on how to integrate advocacy into your Church’s ministry go to the U.S. Catholic Bishops' website and the Lutheran World Relief’s website.​

Toolkits for Grassroots Issue Advocacy

IIC Faith Asylum Vigil Toolkit
Members of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, including NAC, invite you to hold virtual and in-person vigils in your home, faith community, neighborhood, and in spaces of significance for immigration justice (such as outside ICE offices, detention centers, legislative offices, etc.). The vigils will provide a public faith witness and grow awareness in this time when repairs to the U.S. asylum system are desperately needed.

Below is a link to IIC's toolkit. Thank you.
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and
Day of Prayer Toolkit
Please find in this toolkit, created by CCOAHT (Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking) of which NAC is a member, suggestions on how you can celebrate and educate others on National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and the annual World Day of Prayer, Reflection, and Action against Human Trafficking.

We urge you to help raise awareness, promote dialogue and take moral action against the scourge of modern-day slavery throughout the year, not just in January and February.