Rule #8:An advocate is only as strong as the voices he represents
Until it failed. The support we thought we had from the community evaporated overnight. Legislators began to hear from schools and constituencies in our community that were opposed to the bill. We seemed not to be speaking for anybody. It was a disaster. I had gone out to fight on behalf of the community, but when I looked around, I found that there was nobody I was actually representing.
How do advocates properly represent the people they are trying to help? It’s pretty basic, but something you must not take for granted. First you must secure your support, so you can demonstrate that you represent a constituency; then you must work through your internal divisions, so you can maintain a united front.
Reach out to the shuls, schools, and chesed organizations you’re hoping to represent and get their support for your cause. Then you can present the list of those organizations to demonstrate your representation to the public officials before whom you’re pleading your case.
Numbers count in this game. Representation is demonstrated in the number of letters that are sent to elected officials, in the number of people who show up at city hall or the state capitol. Showing up with 1,000 people has far more impact than showing up with ten. Similarly, sending 500 letters on an issue pales in comparison to sending 10,000 letters. How many people are speaking out? These metrics are measured, and politicians consider them carefully when weighing representation.
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