“We stand by as children starve by the millions because we lack the will to eliminate hunger. Yet we have found the will to develop missiles, capable of flying over the polar cap and landing within a few hundred feet of their target. This is not innovation. It is a profound distortion of humanity’s purpose on earth.”

– Retired Republican Senator Mark Hatfield

“We stand by as children starve by the millions because we lack the will to eliminate hunger. Yet we have found the will to develop missiles, capable of flying over the polar cap and landing within a few hundred feet of their target. This is not innovation. It is a profound distortion of humanity’s purpose on earth.”

– Retired Republican Senator Mark Hatfield

RESULTSRESULTS

Creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty

Empowering individuals to have breakthroughs in exercising their personal and political power

Creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty

Empowering individuals to have breakthroughs in exercising their personal and political power

Why Advocacy?Why Advocacy?1976 National Academy of Sciences

study concluded we could end hunger in a generation.

Lack of political will keeps us from addressing poverty and hunger.

Citizen engagement is key in shaping political will.

1976 National Academy of Sciences study concluded we could end hunger in a generation.

Lack of political will keeps us from addressing poverty and hunger.

Citizen engagement is key in shaping political will.

How many of us can say that we have solid education and

experience in communicating with the people who make decisions on

our behalf every day?

How many of us can say that we have solid education and

experience in communicating with the people who make decisions on

our behalf every day?

We push our idealism and our dreams down deep inside

ourselves because we don’t believe we can change things.

We push our idealism and our dreams down deep inside

ourselves because we don’t believe we can change things.

There are solutions to poverty.

We have the power – and the obligation – to create the political will to implement the solutions.

There are solutions to poverty.

We have the power – and the obligation – to create the political will to implement the solutions.

What We Feel Is TrueWhat We Feel Is True

Health Care in the U.S.Health Care in the U.S.

RESULTS activists made an estimated 1,300 contacts with congressional offices in 2010 regarding health care reform

These contacts contributed to the victory of 16 million uninsured people receiving Medicaid coverage by 2019.

Funding for community health centers will increase by $11 billion from 2011 to 2015 to serve an additional 20 million people.

RESULTS activists made an estimated 1,300 contacts with congressional offices in 2010 regarding health care reform

These contacts contributed to the victory of 16 million uninsured people receiving Medicaid coverage by 2019.

Funding for community health centers will increase by $11 billion from 2011 to 2015 to serve an additional 20 million people.

Education and Nutrition in the U.S.

Education and Nutrition in the U.S.

In 2010, RESULTS activists called on Congress to increase investments in Head Start, child care, and child nutrition programs.

Activists pressed the House to pass a bill with higher funding levels and to restore the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after the Senate passed a reauthorization bill that allocated only $4.5 billion in new funding and paid for it with cuts from SNAP.

In 2010, RESULTS activists called on Congress to increase investments in Head Start, child care, and child nutrition programs.

Activists pressed the House to pass a bill with higher funding levels and to restore the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after the Senate passed a reauthorization bill that allocated only $4.5 billion in new funding and paid for it with cuts from SNAP.

Economic Opportunity in the U.S.

Economic Opportunity in the U.S.

Throughout 2010, RESULTS activists reached out directly to congressional offices and created media in support of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, which help low-income working families.

Throughout 2010, RESULTS activists reached out directly to congressional offices and created media in support of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, which help low-income working families.

Global HealthGlobal Health

RESULTS staff worked with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) to support a “Dear Colleague” letter to the president urging a three-year pledge for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Our activists got over 80 media hits about the need to increase funding for the Global Fund. As a consequence, the administration made a first-ever three-year pledge of $4 billion.

RESULTS staff worked with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) to support a “Dear Colleague” letter to the president urging a three-year pledge for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Our activists got over 80 media hits about the need to increase funding for the Global Fund. As a consequence, the administration made a first-ever three-year pledge of $4 billion.

Global EducationGlobal Education

RESULTS helped support the bipartisan Education for All Act in the House, which had 68 cosponsors as of early December 2010. New York RESULTS activists and RESULTS staff secured Senator Kristin Gillibrand’s leadership for the Senate version, which was introduced September 16, 2010.

An Education for All Act of 2011 is expected to be introduced.

RESULTS helped support the bipartisan Education for All Act in the House, which had 68 cosponsors as of early December 2010. New York RESULTS activists and RESULTS staff secured Senator Kristin Gillibrand’s leadership for the Senate version, which was introduced September 16, 2010.

An Education for All Act of 2011 is expected to be introduced.

Global Microcredit

Global Microcredit

In three months, RESULTS advocates helped inspire 126 representatives to cosponsor a House bill to award Prof. Muhammad Yunus the Congressional Gold Medal, pushing the cosponsor total past the 290-member threshold needed to pass the bill.

In three months, RESULTS advocates helped inspire 126 representatives to cosponsor a House bill to award Prof. Muhammad Yunus the Congressional Gold Medal, pushing the cosponsor total past the 290-member threshold needed to pass the bill.

What Do Advocates Do?What Do Advocates Do?

Learn about the issues/problemsDefine effective solutionsLearn about decision makersBuild networksCreate strategiesStay persistentRemain relational

Learn about the issues/problemsDefine effective solutionsLearn about decision makersBuild networksCreate strategiesStay persistentRemain relational

The Activist MilestonesThe Activist Milestones

Empowering YourselfWorking with CongressWorking with the MediaWorking with Your Community

Empowering YourselfWorking with CongressWorking with the MediaWorking with Your Community

Legislative Pressure PointsLegislative Pressure Points

The annual appropriations processThe legislative processCongressional sign-on letters Issue hearings and briefingsPress and public events

The annual appropriations processThe legislative processCongressional sign-on letters Issue hearings and briefingsPress and public events

What Influences Congressional Decisions?

What Influences Congressional Decisions?

ConstituentsStaffColleaguesMediaPaid LobbyistsExpertsPersonal History

ConstituentsStaffColleaguesMediaPaid LobbyistsExpertsPersonal History

Prepare by UnderstandingPrepare by Understanding

What is decision maker’s stake or interest in the issue?

How will you connect with that interest?

How will you respond to objections?

What is decision maker’s stake or interest in the issue?

How will you connect with that interest?

How will you respond to objections?

What are the Most Effective Ways to Communicate with Congress?

What are the Most Effective Ways to Communicate with Congress?

1. Face-to-face meetings = most effective

2. Individualized letters

3. Individualized e-mails

4. Phone calls

(Source: Congressional Management Foundation)

1. Face-to-face meetings = most effective

2. Individualized letters

3. Individualized e-mails

4. Phone calls

(Source: Congressional Management Foundation)

How Can You Make Your Communication with Congress

Most Effective?

How Can You Make Your Communication with Congress

Most Effective?

Show how the legislation is relevant to the home district = most impactful

Explain why you’re taking up the issue.

Offer a story demonstrating why you’re passionate about the issue

Show how the legislation is relevant to the home district = most impactful

Explain why you’re taking up the issue.

Offer a story demonstrating why you’re passionate about the issue

How Do Members of Congress Assess What Their Constituents Care About?How Do Members of Congress Assess What Their Constituents Care About?

In-district meeting = most important

Personalized communication

Town hall meetings

Less impactful = social media. (But this could change!)

In-district meeting = most important

Personalized communication

Town hall meetings

Less impactful = social media. (But this could change!)

Activist Growth CurveActivist Growth Curve

I don’t know if I make a difference, but I want to try.

I know I make a difference.

A Tool To Take AwayA Tool To Take Away

Learn to Speak & Write PowerfullyE - Engage your audienceP – State the Problem I – Illustrate the problem and Inform them on solutionsC – Call to action

Learn to Speak & Write PowerfullyE - Engage your audienceP – State the Problem I – Illustrate the problem and Inform them on solutionsC – Call to action

Power of Citizen AdvocacyPower of Citizen Advocacy“It’s the dogged, tenacious, indefatigability of

RESULTS’ activists and volunteers that continually keeps the pressure on and gives to the substance of a citizens’ movement a kind of electricity, which helps to mobilize public policy and public opinion.”

Stephen Lewis– Former UN Secretary General’s special envoy for

HIV/AIDS in Africa

“It’s the dogged, tenacious, indefatigability of RESULTS’ activists and volunteers that continually keeps the pressure on and gives to the substance of a citizens’ movement a kind of electricity, which helps to mobilize public policy and public opinion.”

Stephen Lewis– Former UN Secretary General’s special envoy for

HIV/AIDS in Africa

Together, we absolutely make a difference!

Together, we absolutely make a difference!