Advocacy as a Tool for Change

This workshop is designed to educate nonprofit staff and community volunteers who are interested in helping to drive change through public policy to support community issues. Participants will learn how to make their voice heard in advocating for change through our state legislative process. No prior experience in advocacy is needed. Topics covered will include: the legislative process, how a bill becomes a law, how you can be heard on issues that are important to you, and what to include in your “ask” to your legislator. Action steps will be presented so that you can feel comfortable advocating for issues of concern to the community. As part of the training, we are excited to have Representative Lauren Carson and Senator Louis DiPalma joining us for a panel discussion of effective advocacy from their perspectives.

Info: Karen Jeffreys joined Horizon Healthcare Partners (HHP) as Director of Communications & Community Partnerships in May of 2019 and coordinates its legislative agenda and advocacy efforts. Previously, Ms. Jeffreys was the Associate Director for the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless (RICH) where for nine years she worked on the Coalition’s legislative, policy and advocacy work. Ms. Jeffreys coordinated legislative efforts to successfully pass the Homeless Bill of Rights, the Homicide Prevention Bill and multiple funding and policy bills.


Ms. Jeffreys has been actively involved in fighting for social and racial justice for over thirty-five years. Through her hands-on experience with community organizations working on such issues as hunger, homelessness and housing, health care, welfare rights and domestic violence, Karen is one of Rhode Island's leading experts in organizing, advocacy, public policy and strategic communications.

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