Mobilize Your Community

www.ajws.org/advocacytoolkit

So, you want to become an advocate for global justice but aren’t sure where to start? Visit us online to access AJWS’s advocacy toolkit, a tactical guide for organizing your community to help drive political change. Here’s a sneak peek:

FIRST STEPS:

Know your issue. Educate yourself and develop an informed opinion. » Visit www.ajws.org/advocacy to learn more about AJWS’s current issue campaigns.
Clarify your guiding values. What is motivating you on this issue and what are the values you seek to promote in taking action?
Know the players. Familiarize yourself with the decision-makers on your issue. A good place to begin is with the members of Congress who represent your city and state. » To find your representatives, visit www.house.gov/writerep and www.senate.gov.
Know your allies. Chances are there are other people and organizations around you who feel the same way you do. Connect and collaborate!
Know your resources. Assess the tools, people and skills that you have already and explore our full advocacy toolkit to get ideas and tools for planning an event, engaging the media and reaching key decision makers.

HOW TO…

Raise Awareness

Power lies in numbers. Build momentum for your campaign by organizing an event to engage and involve other people in your community. » Use our how-to guides for planning and hosting events, marketing your event and fundraising for your cause.

Make Noise

Engage the media to generate buzz and help influence public opinion about your issue. You don’t have to be a PR professional to get press! » Use our templates to write press releases and give successful interviews, and learn to use online and print media to shape the conversation about your issue through op-eds, letters-to-the-editor and social networking.

Shift Power and Policy

We can use our power as constituents to urge our representatives to make decisions that advance social and economic justice and promote human rights in the world. You can address your concerns to members of Congress, the President, the heads of federal agencies or any other elected or appointed official—and urge your friends, family, neighbors and community to do the same. » Check out our tips and templates for how to organize a call-in day, letter-writing campaign or petition drive; or how to arrange a meeting with your member of Congress.

Get Creative

We hope you’ll make use of AJWS’s online toolkit, but don’t limit yourself to our suggestions! Be creative in how you organize around your issue, whom you focus on engaging, what events you plan and how you influence your elected representatives. And let us know how it works!

» To access all of these resources, and more, visit the AJWS advocacy toolkit online:
www.ajws.org/advocacytoolkit

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About AJWS

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international development organization motivated by Judaism’s imperative to pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.

AJWS has received an “A” rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy since 2004 and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for nine years. AJWS also meets all 20 of Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability.

Connect!

Join the chorus on Global Voices, AJWS’s new blog about grassroots development and global justice.

Watch recent Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee speak about her work as a peace activist, her relationship with AJWS, and her vision for the future.

You’ve heard about AJWS’s campaign, Reverse Hunger. Listen to what Ruth Messinger has to say about food justice.

Coming this fall! “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” an exhibit presented by AJWS and the L.A. Skirball Cultural Center.

American Jewish World Service | 45 West 36th Street | New York, NY 10018 | t: 212.792.2900 | 800.889.7146 | f: 212.792.2930