Advocacy Track Seminars
Advocacy 101: Advocacy for the Poor is Biblical
Beyond Partisan Politics for Advocating for the Poor
Would Jesus belong to a political party? Does God want us to be Republicans or Democrats? Should Christians just avoid politics all together? Join us to reexamine how our Christian identity influences our partisan affiliation. Ultimately, this seminar will envision a political participation that gets beyond “Right” and “Left,” and pursues a biblical agenda for the work of God’s kingdom.
Building Sustainable Public Justice Systems for the Poor
Join us as we describe the vulnerability of the poor, particularly women and children, to violent crime, including sexual violence, trafficking, property expropriation, and slavery. Successful efforts of local police to rescue victims and apprehend perpetrators will be described, and the challenge of “scaling up and replicating” this model country-wide will be shared. Discover how U.S. foreign assistance can be used to help countries address violence against the vulnerable, using as an illustration a particularly legislative initiative, the “Child Protection Compact Act of 2009.”
Creative Activism: Experiential Campaigning for Poverty and Justice
We are the most connected, affluent, and sought-after generation to ever exist, yet we are still largely unconnected to the critical challenges of global poverty, injustice, and human suffering. Creative activism is a unique way to raise awareness by bringing issues to life, making these issues real by disrupting the flow on your campus through experiential campaigning. Learn core principles for constructing creative activism campaigns that will change hearts on campus and mobilize others to respond to take action.
Engaging the Powers of Parliament
Learn how an effective advocacy campaign works in a Canadian and parliamentary context, as well as how you can influence G8 leaders who will gather in
Henry Vanderspek and Dave Toycen
Engaging the Powers: In-District Meeting
Explore ways to engage those with power in American government so you can exercise your political voice to make a difference for the poor and vulnerable. Specifically, learn how to schedule, prepare for, and conduct a successful meeting with Members of Congress and their staff. Included will be mock meetings with policy-makers on the issue of child trafficking and the Child Protection Compact Act. We will also explore how to engage in advocacy when you return to campus, and how to continue building a fruitful relationship with your elected officials.
Got Poverty? Using Our Voices to Advocate for the Poor
Learn how and why the poor are disproportionately affected by global health crises, environmental catastrophes, and social structures. Examine what organizations do to advocate for the poor as well as how you can come together with other students to make difference through advocacy and creative activism. We will emphasize ways students and ministries can mobilize campuses and churches to act on global AIDS, hunger, and malaria.
Immigration Systems and the Poor
Justice and Evangelism
Sharing the good news of Jesus was intended to be done through establishing the Kingdom in all the world. Unfortunately, these two practices have often been dichotomized. Christians often evangelize with disregard to global issues like poverty, the environment, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, war and suffering. Other times, many Christians invest their lives in efforts of relief, advocacy, social and political transformation and medical care without addressing the eternal spiritual realities of the individual. Christ’s death and Christ’s Kingdom are powerful enough to both save the society and save the individual and this seminar will address the theology of justice evangelism and present models for engaging the world of need around us in an integrated fashion. God’s desire is to both establish the name of Christ and the message of salvation from sin as well as the power of his coming Kingdom and the power to transform our broken world.
If you are interested in the intersection of community organizing and advocacy for the poor as well as the history of revivals and social movements then this is the workshop for you! Working for God’s Kingdom and for social justice can be challenging if done alone. Come learn about the power of building authentic relationships across cultural barriers that lead to social change. You will learn to tell your own story in such a way that you can build teams and motivate people with a Kingdom vision for social justice.
Aaron Graham and Allison Johnson
Righting a Human Wrong - Your Role in Stopping Child Slavery
Learn about the realities of human trafficking in our world today – who is involved, where they are, and what they do. Explore the work and successes of organizations who address such issues as forced labor, sexual exploitation, and child soldiers. Most importantly, discover the crucial role we all play in righting the wrong of human trafficking and just how easy it is to make our voices heard on our campuses, in our churches, and through the halls of power in our government. We will also talk about the Human Wrong Campaign, which is a practical opportunity for students to use creative activism to help stop child slavery.
Working with Not Just for the Poor
We must see the poor as they are –not as objects of our advocacy but as full-fledged partners with work of seeking justice.
