When it comes to making a difference in our communities, we often hear terms like advocacy, activism, lobbying and educating. While they are interconnected, each plays a unique role in the larger movement for change. Let’s explore what sets them apart and how they contribute to progress.
Activism: Action-oriented
Activism is all about direct, visible actions—protests, marches, strikes and sit-ins. It’s action-oriented by definition. The primary goal of activism is to bring attention to important social issues. By creating a public display, activism forces people to take a stance, whether it’s on child care, maternal health or systemic challenges. While activism doesn’t often lead to immediate policy changes, it builds awareness and momentum. It ensures that issues can’t be ignored and lays the groundwork for broader public support. Activism is most effective when all efforts for coordinated and credible advocacy have been stymied.
Lobbying: Policy-oriented
Lobbying focuses specifically on legislation—bills, resolutions or policies under consideration by lawmakers. The goal is to persuade policymakers to act. Policy advisors and lobbyists do this through working directly with senators and institutional stakeholders to identify specific policy changes that will impact the larger community. As constituents, we can do a broader form of engagement that might look like grassroots lobbying, whether by writing letters, submitting public comments or making direct appeals to your senator to vote a certain way. Community members can also provide valuable insight during policy development by working alongside policy advisors and lobbyists as well serving as experts to their legislator, particularly when lawmakers need input from those most affected by an issue.
Educating: Information-oriented
Educating ensures that decision-makers and influencers have accurate, relevant information about how policies affect communities. This approach builds relationships with community leaders and those grasstops stakeholders who can strategically influence policymakers by shaping their understanding of issues and empowering them to make informed decisions. Education can take many forms—hosting issues forums, writing op-eds, arranging site visits for policymakers or industry leaders. These actions help decision-makers see the real-world impact of their choices and understand potential solutions.
Advocacy: People-oriented
The core foundation of all of this is advocacy. Advocacy is rooted in people—their stories, needs and voices. It’s about working as and with the community to create change and amplify shared values. Advocacy weaves individual stories into a unified narrative. For example, if maternal health is a priority, effective advocacy ensures that the individual stories of those impacted helps to build a bigger narrative to the whole of the community and its leaders and, in doing so, installs a high social value on culturally competent, accessible prenatal and postnatal care for all. Building and nurturing relationships is at the core of advocacy, fostering a shared vision for collective action. Advocacy highlights what’s important to a community and creates momentum for change, even before specific solutions are fully developed.
Bringing it all together
While each of these approaches has a distinct focus, they are most powerful when used in a coordinated, strategic and credible way. Activism builds awareness when all else fails. Lobbying influences decision-makers to enact specific solutions. Educating ensures all those making decisions are informed. Advocacy ties it all together by centering people and relationships in the public policy process.
When you foster the collective community imagination by amplifying voices through storytelling, educating decision-makers on the issues and impact, and taking action when the time is right, your contributions play a critical role in shaping a more just and equitable future for children and families.
Read more: Everyday advocacy: How small moments can yield big results for kids and families in your community
