College access and success organizations may think they do not have the knowledge and skills to directly support student advocacy. Fortunately, there are many small actions direct-service college access and success organizations can take to start putting student advocacy at the forefront of the work they do.
Based on our discussions with students and researchers, we developed a list of 20 practices to experiment with in the next phase of our project.
We encourage you to experiment with the following practices and to share your results with us!
Activities to Promote Advocacy for College Bound Youth
Become a student advocacy organization “clearinghouse.”
Serve as a student-centered educational equity news center.
Provide high school teachers with advocacy units students can easily implement.
Advising and Counseling Activities
Build your advisors’ advocacy competency and pass those skills on to students.
Be an empowering organization to on-campus advisors so they can respond to student issues about education inequity and provide resources for developing student-led advocacy.
Bridging Activities
Partner with campus advocacy organizations.
Build relationships with community advocates.
Technological and Social Media Support
Mobilize students through technology.
Dedicate virtual space to student organizing.
Personal Strategic Planning
Help new college students develop their personal missions.
Reconvene students for their learning and yours to share lessons learned and recalibrate strategies.
Real-World Learning
Listen to students and support their campaigns.
Take students to Sacramento to meet with legislators on a topic of their choice.
Build authentic connections for movements through allyship.
Inspire students to make enduring change through policy.
Skill-Building Activities
Let students take the lead on organizing, programming and running workshops they know their peers need.
Teach students how to communicate for successful advocacy.
Work Experiences and Pathways
Let them learn while they earn.
Get involved in Service Learning.
Walk the Talk
Invite your students to teach you.