Advocacy is involving, educating & mobilizing individuals or groups to influence or persuade others toward attitude, policy, or culture change.
- There are many student-led clubs that engage in advocacy for change on campus or more broadly. A few of these include: Bowdoin Labor Alliance, Bowdoin Reproductive Justice Coalition, Sunrise Bowdoin, and Criminal Justice Reform Club Find more on Campus Groups. If you’d like to see your organization on this list, please email us.
- Organize in your community back home. Inspire2Vote is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with high school students to encourage them to vote and take political action.
- Writing a letter to the editor is a way to present your thoughts to a large audience and possibly attract attention from your representatives.
- Write to your Representatives directly. Our Who Are My Reps? page has contact info for your Maine representatives, and links to look up others. This list of tips on how to write your letter will help make sure it is effective in informing your Representative of your stance on an issue. You can also submit your opinions about specific bills your representatives electronically through IssueVoter.
- Petitions, social media action, marches & demonstrations, and campaign events (knocking on doors, phone calls, tabling, etc.) are all ways to raise awareness. Find an existing campaign that shares your values, or plan something yourself.