Advocacy is the next step

As Spokane emerges from another election cycle, attention will turn toward the work that elected officials will complete in the months to come until the next election. We must encourage constituents in continuing to engage from turning the power of voting to the power of advocacy.

Advocacy is not only limited to service. It is as simple as a social media post or a phone call.

For many non-governmental entities, advocacy has become the means in which formal change can occur. Many organizations have come to recognize that advocacy can help raise awareness as well as pressure policymakers to act.

The Borgen Project recognized this importance of advocacy and has become the leading national campaign to make poverty a focus of United States foreign policy. The main source of The Borgen Project’s success is rooted in the promotion of an individual’s impact on policy by communicating with government officials.

Congressional members like Senator Maria Cantwell have heeded the call of constituents and has supported The Borgen Project’s efforts. Issues that you care about can be placed on congressional leaders’ agendas with a single click of a button.

We all do better when we do better. Make the call.

Mauliola Gonsalves

Spokane