Comments for Classroom to Capitol

Comment on What about the next day? by melindaklewis

melindaklewis — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:08:29 +0000

Thank you so much! Yes, I couldn’t agree more–my faith, and the way that I try to teach and model for my kids, demands both. I think, sometimes, that addressing injustice just seems even more daunting (not that charity is always easy for us to live up to, either), so we tend to try to gloss over it. Thank you for reading!

Comment on What about the next day? by mcmeeshi

mcmeeshi — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:13:30 +0000

Great reflection! We have to work for both Charity (direct service) and Justice (addressing root causes). So often the message from Christianity seems to emphasize Charity but I think if we look closer at all the Bible says about poverty and injustice, we see that the long-term work of restoring Justice through social structures is just as important.

Comment on “You Don’t Speak for Me” by melindaklewis

melindaklewis — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:55:05 +0000

Aren’t they awesome? Thanks for reading!

Comment on “You Don’t Speak for Me” by Katharine HIll

Katharine HIll — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:18:22 +0000

This is a great example of social work advocacy- I”m very impressed by your students (and by your mentoring!)

Comment on Sometimes you have to hit bottom by melindaklewis

melindaklewis — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:13:02 +0000

I know! Of course, if I quickly disclaim that I’m a social worker who does policy advocacy, that leads to the inevitable political argument. Maybe that’s why I sometimes avoid parties… Thanks for your comment!

Comment on Sometimes you have to hit bottom by Lyn

Lyn — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:24:26 +0000

Totally feeling you on this one. Seriously, I hate BBQ’s and parties because everyone wants advice and counseling once they find out I’m pursuing Social Work.

Comment on Yes, those slogans mean something: putting advocacy in your mission statement by The Power of One | Classroom to Capitol

The Power of One | Classroom to Capitol — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:48:37 +0000

[...] The initiative is somewhat distinct, particularly in the philanthropic world, because it revolves around advocacy, specifically, rather than a more diffuse sense of nonprofit leadership, and yet, unlike many other [...]

Comment on A Diary of a Social Worker in the Political Arena by melindaklewis

melindaklewis — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:39:13 +0000

Thank you so much!

Comment on A Diary of a Social Worker in the Political Arena by social work salary

social work salary — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:59:31 +0000

Thank you for the inspiring post. People should really be more aware of their own ability to change things. Keep up the good work!

Comment on What Makes a Good Policy Brief? by melindaklewis

melindaklewis — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:21:07 +0000

Thanks for your comment! That’s a great question–I think the evidence is clear that information alone (as is usually contained in a policy brief) is insufficient to change people’s beliefs and, certainly, their behavior. The value of a policy brief, then, or of any other policy communication, is in how it can be used by advocates as a tool to do what we know does work–connect new information to what people already value, and show how there is an imperative for action (along a certain approach) in order to preserve those valued aims/goods. We fail not only when a given policy brief is inadequate, then, but when we presume that simply providing people with information will, in any real way, be sufficient to shape what they think and believe and do. How have you used policy briefs as part of a persuasive strategy in a policy campaign?