Community is a powerful thing.

Community is connection between people through shared cultures and neighborhoods. Although laws and regulations are important, community is where the essential work is done. It is through community that we unite to improve the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors. Families, adults, teens, and children are all experts on their community’s needs and strengths. Public health officials and organizations should seek their expertise and form partnerships. And communities should be reminded of their power because an united community is a powerful force.

 Community Engagement

  • Understanding a community and its needs is the first step in advocacy. Reach out to community members and create a community advisory board. Present to them the issues and let them lead the charge in how to address those issues.

  • Creating an effective advocacy movement doesn't require the invention of a new organization. Many environmental advocacy groups already exist. You can create a chapter in your community or work with the organization and other community members to affect change. Here is a list of some existing community-based organizations. Here is a list of some government organizations.

  • Culture is a manifestation of our shared human experience. We humans are vastly diverse, and so each community has a unique culture! Along with engaging the community via a committee, participate and seek to understand. Attend a festival, attend a spiritual gathering, read books by local authors, and learn the history. Using these methods, you can create messaging and interventions that are culturally humble and culturally competent. This means the messaging and interventions speak to, respect, and involve the community's culture.

  • Constituents need to communicate with representatives at all levels to know what their constituents care about. It's also important to ally with receptive representatives.

    Find your elected officials.
    Advocacy Email Template

Remember to Vote!

It’s important to engage politically. Politics can be tiring and sometimes disheartening, but the people placed in power have great influence over what happens locally, statewide, and nationally. And YOU have the power to decide who has that influence. Remember, the rest of the country is your community too!