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

Interfaith Toolkits to Save TPS Holders
You can help save the lives of 330,000 people in the U.S. who would otherwise be subjected to disease, violence, starvation, the aftermath of natural disasters, and other life-threatening conditions. If enough of us act, we can move the government to not deport U.S. residents who are TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders. 

Below are two toolkits (one on 5 quick actions to take right now and one that goes into great detail).  In addition, here is a link to free graphics.
Interfaith Toolkit on Human Trafficking
Together with other members of the Washington Inter-religious Staff Community (WISC). the National Advocacy Center shares this interfaith toolkit created by the WISC Working Group on Human Trafficking.  The toolkit is intended o be a starting point for faith communities around the country as they seek to educate themselves and take action during Human Trafficking Awareness Month each January - and every month.  We urge you to help raise awareness, promote dialogue and take moral action against the scourge of modern-day slavery.
Toolkit to Protect Refugee Resettlement
The Refugee Council USA has provided a toolkit for advocates to use this winter (2017-2018) while Congress is out of session and Members are in their home districts. Our voices are needed now more than ever so Congress hears from and understands the broad and deep level of support Americans have for refugees.