Students who wish to advocate and take action about their chosen cause have a number of choices.
Many people who engage in civic action reach out to elected officials. Below you will find a list of elected officials over Shrewsbury, MA. Use the tips about writing professional and effective emails on the "Tips for Connecting Page."
Elected officials often make decisions, adopt causes, and vote for bills based on feedback from their constituents. The more individuals who contact elected officials about a specific cause, the more likely change will occur. Furthermore, many officials may reach back to you to discuss your ideas further, especially at the local level. Connect with your teachers or Mrs. Bredberg for additional help and support.
Local:
State:
Federal:
Big Timber Media
A PDF ebook with great information for youth activists, from forming a plan through execution.
Shows free online resources such as reference, programming and displays. ABC-CLIO
This book explores how government information can be used to engage students through project based learning.
When taking action, it is important to consider your intentions and the end goal, as they will influence the action that you take.
Those who are looking to influence and make change should consider action that takes a step in that direction, organizing an educational event related to your cause, advocating with elected officials, writing an opinion piece for a local paper, or organize a group of people to advocate together.
Some seek to share their voice about a cause. Standing up and saying what you believe in can often be a powerful symbol for others. Creating art, designing displays, starting a social media account, writing poetry, and more can be meaningful ways to engage in a conversation about your cause. However, with any cause, we do want to eventually move to influence. Take the time to consider what a move from voice to influence would look like.
