Event

Advocacy 101

3 options! March 8th (In-person), March 9th (In-person) or March 18 & 25th (Zoom)

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For this class, you have 3 options!

March 8th, 10 AM-2 PM CT (Bring your own lunch)
In-person at Kountze Commons, 2665 Douglas St, Omaha, 68131

March 8, 2025 – Omaha (Kountze Commons)

March 9th, 2-6 PM CT
In-person at First Lutheran, 3315 G. Ave, Kearney, 68847

March 9, 2025 – Kearney (First Lutheran) 

March 18th, 25th, & April 1,  12-1 PM CT
ZOOM
March 18, 25 & April 1, 2025 – ZOOM

 

In our baptismal promises, we strive for justice and peace on the earth. We do this in many ways, often by meeting the immediate needs of God’s people from feeding the hungry to offering shelter or providing support. This is extremely important and necessary work!!! However, we are also called to explore long-term solutions to the challenges we see in our community and the world and to advocate for funding and programs for those solutions.

If you are ready to work for long-term solutions but unsure where to start, this class is for you! In this “on-ramp to advocacy,” we will discuss practical ways to lobby for the issues and programs that matter to you.

We’ll begin with the basics, such as how to be an effective advocate. We’ll also discuss WHY and HOW the church engages in advocacy.

We’ll move into practical actions like letter writing (who to send it to, what to say, when to send it), phone calls (scripts, frequency, techniques to get attention), and in-person advocacy (visits to legislative offices, hearings, etc.). We will discuss how to organize with others and not feel alone in the struggle. You’ll leave the class with resources, handouts, and connections to feel supported and encouraged on your advocacy journey!

Facilitator: Gretchen Ahrens (she/her) is the Director for Youth and Justice Ministries for the Nebraska Synod. She grew up in a family of advocates and remembers going around the neighborhood on her bicycle helping her mom pass out pamphlets during elections. She also remembers watching her parents advocate for social justice issues at her church’s annual meetings (which her parents forced her to attend once she was confirmed). Something stuck and Gretchen is still passionate about advocacy, but she had to make her journey down the on ramp to advocacy and figure out how to use her voice. In this workshop, she will share her experiences and the expertise gained from others on the journey.

 

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