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Power of the Pen: Using Letters and Postcards to Reach Your Reps

October 28, 2021

Come join us for our second Civic Skills Academy.

Decades of social justice movements—most recently the Black Lives Matter uprising of Summer 2020—demonstrate the power of highly visible, public modes of advocacy for pushing social and legislative change. But influential civic engagement does not stop there. Letter- and postcard-writing are accessible, frugal alternatives that can be just as impactful for reaching politicians at the local, state, and national levels. Moreover, the ongoing nationwide verve for social justice demands diverse approaches for implementing changes, and letter writing—especially as a collective effort—offers an exciting gateway into the world of advocacy and change-making.  

In this workshop, we will equip partici pants with the tools for writing persuasively to lawmakers on specific policies, from deciding who to contact to delivery. Together, we will focus closely on identifying legislation, using “power mapping” as a planning strategy, and constructing striking and convincing letters, along with addressing some noteworthy dos/don'ts. This workshop will be collaborative and participatory. Our goal is not only to help students advocate for the issues they care about, but to empower them to exercise civic agency by leveraging their research, writing, and critical thinking skills and passion for resonant change.  

Further information

  • Location: Althouse 201
  • Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Calendar Icon
  • Cost: Free