Join the Statewide Poverty Action Network (Solid Ground’s advocacy partner) for our Communities in Action advocacy program, a FREE series of workshops on how to use your voice to influence public policy and create the social change you want to see!

Communities in Action is a series of three workshops focusing on skill building for people interested in advocacy, policy, community organizing, and social justice. Participants will leave with the tools, knowledge, and resources to enter the 2020 Legislative Session as anti-poverty and racial justice advocates for their own communities.

You are welcome to attend as many workshops as fit in your schedule, although we encourage you to attend all three for the best experience. All sessions are free to attend, and no prior advocacy experience is needed. All participants will receive a $20 travel reimbursement for each session, as well as food and childcare! Note: As Poverty Action’s work traditionally centers the experiences and voices of low-income communities and communities of color, we ask only those who self-identify as low-income to attend.

Space is limited, so preregistration is REQUIRED! See workshop dates, locations, and registration links below.

Communities in Action Workshops

SESSION 1: Introduction to Advocacy & Poverty Action’s Campaigns

The first session is a crash course in advocacy/community organizing work, designed to be completely accessible for anyone – including people entirely new to the field. Our policy campaign managers will present background into their campaigns, including information on how we set our policy agenda each year and how we work to pass it during the legislative session.

SESSION 2: An Overview of Washington State’s Legislative Process

Ever wondered exactly how bills become laws, or what it is that lawmakers, advocates, and lobbyists actually do during legislative session? We’ll break all of that down – and explain the vital role that constituents play to pass progressive policy.

SESSION 3: Storytelling for Change & Connecting to Larger Movements

All social movements share one thing in common: the power of people, united by common experiences. We will explore social movements both past and present, talk about methods of sharing your own personal story, and discuss why it’s one of the most important things that an advocate can do.