Growing Grassroots Webinar Offers Insight and Tools to Improve Your Advocacy Efforts

Thanks so much to those who attended the American Littoral Society's Growing Grassroots panel discussion on Dec. 16. I hope you found the discussion engaging and enlightening.

Watch the embedded recording of the panel (above) or click this link to watch it on the Society's YouTube channel, along with answers to outstanding questions, and action items to get started in your grassroots advocacy journey!

Read on for answers to questions from the webinar, as well as additional resources to aid your advocacy efforts.

Outstanding Questions and Resources

Are there any metrics or key performance indicators the panelists use to measure effectiveness or progress of their advocacy efforts? If not, what criteria do they use to determine how to dedicate their time and efforts?

There are many ways to measure the success of advocacy efforts, here are a few that we find helpful:

• Most social media platforms and action alerts will provide data based on audience engagement tracking those over time will give you a good idea of success and the type of content your audience prefers
• Setting fundraising goals and tracking your progress toward meeting or exceeding them
• Getting decisionmakers to speak out on issues either in the media or on social media
• Getting decisionmakers to introduce legislation (even better if it’s passed!)
• Sometimes, even noticing that something is a more front-and-center issue is a win by getting it on people’s radars. For example, climate conversations have come a long way in the public sphere over the past decade. That’s large-in-part due to advocates keeping a steady drum beat, organizing, and growing the movement.

How can people get involved with your work or can you share some thoughts on ways people can get more involved in conservation efforts in their communities?

• Become a Champion of the Coast
• Join the American Littoral Society
• Join the Healthy Oceans Coalition
• Join the movement to stop plastic pollution for good by signing this petition supporting the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act
• Urge Congress to support the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2020
• Participate in the Rumson River-Friendly Challenge
• Attend an upcoming Zero Waste Workshop
• Attend your local environmental commission meetings and participate in volunteer events
• Write a letter to your local environmental commission requesting information about how to join
• Follow us on social media:
  American Littoral Society:
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittoralSociety/
  Twitter: https://twitter.com/littoralsociety?s=20
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littoralsociety/?hl=en
  Healthy Oceans Coalition
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OceansCoalition
  Twitter: https://twitter.com/NatlOceanPolicy

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