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housing action
Emerging Advocates, Unite!

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Alouise Urness, Community and Member Organizer

Over the years here at the Housing Alliance, I’ve had the chance to meet and to hear from people whose passion for affordable housing and addressing homelessness comes from a deep place–their personal experience of homelessness or housing insecurity. I’m always inspired by those interactions. And I often find myself thinking, “This is exactly what people need to hear. This person’s story is why our work matters.” I often follow this thought by working to help connect this person to more formal opportunities that have an impact on policy and budget decisions. So I’m incredibly excited that we’ve come up with a new way to support these connections: the Emerging Advocates Program.

Starting in September, we’ll convene a group of 15-20 people whose advocacy is grounded in their lived experience. For six weeks, they’ll be able to learn, share, and practice advocacy skills together.

Participants will have a chance to draw on the knowledge of guest trainers and speakers, Housing Alliance staff, and even a legislator and/or legislative staffer. We’ll support attendees in taking some concrete steps as advocates, like writing a letter to the editor on an issue they’re concerned about, planning a meeting with an elected official, or using Facebook or Twitter to raise awareness and spur action. Not only will the emerging advocates meet regularly this fall and visit Olympia together, we anticipate that they will also have forged relationships with each other and with the Housing Alliance that will continue to support them long after the training part of the program ends. 

I think that we’ve touched on a huge need in the community. We’ve already received inquiries and applications for the program from people from Okanagan to Chehalis. Though the weekly gatherings will take place in Seattle, those who can’t get to the training location will be able to participate online. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow your advocacy skills to match the story you have, I hope you’ll check out the Emerging Advocates Program page at our website. Or maybe you know someone who’d be a perfect fit? Please send them this link: http://wliha.org/emerging-advocates-program.

Applications are due Friday, August 9. Feel free to email* me at alouise(at)wliha(.)org or call me at 206.442.9455 x203 if you have any questions.
*When emailing, please change "at" to "@" and delete the parentheses. This helps us prevent spam.

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Yakima advocates from the 14th District during Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day 2013.

 


 

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