The Advocacy Academy

The Advocacy Academy began in March of 2017 when PANA identified a deep need to educate, develop and transform community members into powerful leaders that shape and mobilize for change. The mission of PANA is to promote the fair treatment and equitable inclusion of refugee communities using organizing to achieve collective impact and policy change. PANA is dedicated to increasing the number of leaders from refugee backgrounds who understand and work on the issues concerning New Americans.

Purpose of Advocacy Academy

The Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans aims to build a powerful and visible refugee electorate that demands and fights for policies that impact their families. We are dedicated to training and providing the necessary tools and skills leaders need to learn advocacy and community organizing.

Goals of the Advocacy Academy:

To facilitate the mobilization and political education of community members, the Advocacy Academy will help leaders build grassroots power. It accomplishes this through the following:

• Learning theory and tools of organizing
• Understanding advocacy pipeline to challenging power
• How to run and win a campaign
• Gaining power through Social Media Advocacy
• Understanding local political environment
• Teaching legislation and lobbying 101
• Effective communication and messaging strategies
• Advocate for local, state, and national issues
• Meeting with City Council Representatives

Commitment:

• Fellows meet every Wednesday 6-8pm from January 10th to March 14th

Selection Process

1. You must be 18 years old or older to participate.
2. You must come from a refugee background or be first generation student.
3. Demonstrated commitment to community.
4. Applications are due no later than 4pm December 16th.
5. PANA staff and volunteers will review applications and schedule an interview.

Benefits of Fellowship (for Fellow)

• Opportunity to take a deep dive into real time campaign planning and execution.
• Leadership development and professional development specific to electoral organizing work, community organizing, and policy advocacy.
• Mentorship with seasoned campaign leadership support and exposure to experts and hands on experience lobbying local elected officials.
• Exposure to career and internship opportunities.

Submit your resume to admin@panasd.org and your answers to the following questions:

1. Why do you want to be a fellow of the Advocacy Academy?
2. What do you hope to achieve for your community as a result of your participation?
3. What are some issues you have faced or are concerns in your community that you want to resolve? What ideas do you have to address those issues?

If you have more questions contact Maggie Ta, Maggie.Ta@panasd.org.

Click on the link below to get started on the application process now.

Advocacy Academy – PANA

2018 Program Outline

Community Organizing Part I

Lobbying 101 and Power Mapping

Community Organizing Part II

Organizing Tools: Canvassing and Phonebanking

Communications and Media Strategy

Local Advocacy and Players

Local Lobby Visits

Social Media Advocacy