Putting Intentional Advocacy Into Practice: Two Examples

Abounding Prosperity in Their Own Words: Boosting Accountability and Advocacy

Accountability has improved the advocacy of Abounding Prosperity in a few ways. On a micro level—from the employee point of view—our staff has started to be more strategic in outreach, partnerships, and their individual and collective intent in terms of both job-related goals and fulfilling the mission of the agency. They are more intentional about professional and social endeavors. The staff also make sure they are always advocating for their individual social networks.

Here are some examples.

Example 1: Asking more questions

Our transgender specialist has started to ask more questions in certain settings and forums related to trans rights. She asks about what local and regional jurisdictional decisions will mean for her individual social network, as well as how she can assist in implementing change.

Example 2: Taking notice of policy

Our YMSM (Young Men who have Sex with Men) specialists on staff are taking more notice of policy implementation and the outcomes of federal laws and congressional debates. Not surprisingly, they keep track of the ways these relate to health care. But they are also following their impact on minority single parent families.

Both of these staff members grew up in single parent households. They recognize that the dynamics of such upbringing have direct impact on social and sexual risks for MSM in their age group (14-29). As a result, they have started taking more accountability for and paying more attention to what they say, do, and advocate for.

Example 3: Expanding our strategic plan

Collectively as an agency, we completed the first phase of our strategic plan for advocacy and are expanding it to include goals and objectives for the next six months. Accountability from the agency as a whole has improved due to the IA project. We are applying the principles and strategies to more of the community needs within our mission, and we are expanding services.

Example 4: Greater community accountability

We have begun using our client satisfaction surveys in new ways. We ask clients to suggest what the community needs. We ask them what we can advocate for in terms of the funding we seek, our partnerships, etc. We understand that all money is not good money, and all partnerships are not good partnerships. Now, more than ever, our agency is taking into account our responsibilities—we know we must hold the agency accountable in every aspect of how we serve the community.

BASIC NWFL in Their Own Words: Empowered Board Members, Advocacy Coalition and More

BASIC was thrilled to be part of the Intentional Advocacy program. This process was so helpful to our organization, and we want to be in the know about any additional capacity-building opportunities that can help further enhance our quality of service.

Our organization has made several changes to bring greater commitment to advocacy among volunteers and staff, along with the skills and knowledge to follow through.

Here are some examples.

• Board members have improved their management/leadership skills.
• Staff members have improved their communication skills. They have learned how to use different social media platforms—we can now go beyond website, newspaper, and TV and radio PSAs. Our social media strategies allow the agency to reach out to clients and target populations, and to promote our programs, including our current advocacy program.
• BASIC has identified and assigned a staff member to be a Communication Assistant. This person is responsible as a focus person for our communication/advocacy related-programs.
• The agency identified some of the weaknesses of our social media efforts and responded to strengthen these efforts. We are working with a web developer/webmaster to help upgrade the agency's website and Facebook page.
• Lessons and skills learned from the Intentional Advocacy program will enable BASIC to continue to successfully implement its current and future advocacy programs. Recently, BASIC was selected by Southern AIDS Coalition to be among its LEAD Academy Cohorts for its Advocacy Project, consisting of six Southern agencies. Therefore, this will be another great opportunity for BASIC to apply experience and skills from the Intentional Advocacy program and to improve its advocacy efforts.
• We have formed a solid Advocacy Coalition consisting of community partners and people living with HIV. They are developing Advocacy Campaign materials and a Facebook page.
• One of our Program Coordinators and a Board Member attended AIDSWatch for the first time, and second time, respectively. AIDSWatch is the nation’s largest annual constituent-based national HIV/AIDS advocacy event.
• We’ve identified opportunities to schedule advocacy engagements with local elected officials, especially one of our state representatives who just moved his office two doors down from BASIC!