Advocacy As An Impact

By Kim Allchurch Flick

What is advocacy, anyway?

Advocacy is a big word. According to the many posts about advocacy on the internet, there are many definitions and it means many different things to different people. I researched and was flung headlong into a dizzying array of comments, articles, categories, and definitions! Alliance for Justice defines advocacy as “any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.”

We as social enterprise leaders have opportunities. So, since “good advocacy” is in the eye of the beholder, let’s have a conversation about it.

Advocacy for people and the planet? How do we consider advocacy? It takes thought. The concept can be confusing when considered alongside words like ‘influencer’ and ‘affiliate’ and ‘support.’ There is a lot on the internet about brand advocates, but while thriving businesses are great, advocacy centered on community and environment, humanity, equity and justice extends far beyond good business in terms of impacts and outcomes.

Our type of advocacy requires being actively passionate about making things better for communities, families, the environment, and policy change to dismantle inequitable systems. Where we as individuals don’t have the means, the power, and the reach to practice strong advocacy, we can find the heavy hitter advocates and support them. Organizations that focus on advocacy and pay their employees well can effectively support areas that align with our own organization’s values.

I talk about the “why” so much that one of my friends said “you’re an advocate!” I hadn’t thought on that word until he said it. It just seems natural to share something good and help create connections and awareness. It caused me to think more about what it was that inspired that comment.

Advocacy in our work is not only client support and good work with them, it’s about championing them, while connecting others to their new ideas, and opportunities. I don’t consider this paid work. I consider it a joy as part of service. I also believe advocacy needs caution and equity. Saviorism is rarely helpful, and often harmful. Sometimes advocacy is helping create a space where we get out of the way for those who are rarely heard to feel safe to express ideas, needs, and opportunities in their own voice, from their own lived experience. Allyship can be a form of advocacy.

Advocacy can be practiced in the areas of community, safety, human rights, environment, governance, and policy. What if all of those commitments were always considered alongside equity? We can find an advocacy niche and do good work there; sometimes deep understanding and action in one or two areas is better than being spread thin over many.

Where do you see advocacy and opportunity?

My company is small, there’s only so much we can do. However I’m a big believer in supporting the heavy hitters! An inspiration struck me last summer when I learned that Our Children’s Trust won their legal case, Held v. Montana! That organization gives voice to youth from various parts of Montana, gave voice to Tribal concerns, and focused on health, welfare, and trauma. By working on legal issues and shaping policy and legislations, Our Children’s Trust advocates work hard for change in human rights, environmental stewardship, and policy representation! I chose to support their advocacy. It’s so much bigger than anything I can do, and they need the support. Our Children’s Trust is an advocacy organization worthy of our support. And there are many other examples!

The need for advocacy also shows up in our lives in personal ways. When someone is hospitalized for months, advocacy takes on new meaning, a full focus, and may require changes in our lifestyle. Many things may be put aside as we become a force of nature and love. It doesn’t necessarily mean challenging healthcare providers, but can mean being a researcher, asking questions, helping a loved one’s voice be heard for their own agency, or spending time making the insurance calls and other outreach. It also means seeking to understand the care team. My family has been through this more than once, and advocacy is a necessary charge. It takes time, dedication, and simply being there, whatever that might mean. Memory care is an important time where advocacy can be really important, in ways that are almost like becoming a member of the care team.

Advocacy in life, love, and business can intersect, cross over, and blend. Advocacy in community takes organization and dialogue. I love Business for a Better Portland (BBPDX), an organization in my city that rallies businesses to share their voice and energy on topics that are sometimes brought to legislation, to the media, and to the community. An example is coming together to increase business in the downtown Portland area. Every Friday morning, people show up to help local businesses, support and advocate for them, and rally to bring more people into the cause. Through this call, several thousand more dollars are spent in these local businesses on a weekly basis, helping them sustain themselves and thrive. Small and local advocacy, too, can be mighty, far reaching, and impactful.

I personally think of the advocacy I do, and that we do as the human part of helping create change for the better. It’s championing for a cause. And it means taking action in ways that are not reflexive, but are researched, meaningful, with consent when possible, and with deep questions and listening. This is activism and action that is thoughtful and checked for outcomes. There are other ways of being in service that are also advocacy. It just takes choice and organization.

What do you think? How do you feel about advocacy, being an advocate, being advocated for? How can we advocate for issues such as climate improvements, health and welfare issues, and education? Every one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has space for advocacy. How can we weave advocacy into our hoped-for impacts as businesses? Who do you admire as advocates and what are some examples? How do you feel about advocacy that some of us get paid for, and advocacy that is not paid? References are below at the end of this blog. Feel free to weigh in with your opinions.

I feel a need for deep conversation on this topic for those of us who want to find focus and strength to advocate by ourselves, and in community. What makes a Mighty Advocate? Let’s learn together.

***

Social Enterprise Alliance is an advocacy organization! Since 1978, SEA has worked to help members build community, relationships, and capacity. Today, SEA is a partner with People and Planet First, working with many others around the world to verify every organization that centers people and planet first in its measures of bottom line success. Learn more and get verified here.

Resources:

• What is Advocacy — Alliance for Justice
• Top 4 Examples of Customer Advocacy
• 8 Inspiring Advocacy Campaigns
• Advocacy Examples
• Getting an Advocacy Campaign off the Ground
• Advocacy as a Business Impact

Kim Allchurch Flick is the founder of Mighty Epiphyte Consulting LLC, based in Portland, Oregon.