Advocacy- The Heart of America

Even though advocacy is one of the smallest in the non-profit sector in number of organizations, employers, and revenue, it has and continues to shape America by changing laws and organizational policies because and while changing attitudes of people. America was indeed founded upon the act of advocacy (in the form of organized protests and reform) in that people fought to have freedom of choice in which religion they chose to worship and for that choice to be separated at any level from the state. The biggest and most important events in American history have truly been shaped by two main actions: wars and advocacy- social movements. With some of the most important in the 19th and early 20th century being abolition, child welfare, workers' rights, women's suffrage, and temperance, the later would shape the US even more with what O'Neill stated as the new 'golden age' of advocacy.

"The principal advocacy movements during this period include the African American, Latino, Asian, and Native American civil rights movement; the women's movement; the anti-Vietnam War and anti-nuclear weapons movements; gay and lesbian rights; and others" (O'Neill 141).

Advocacy has few ties to government and businesses because it often targets the way both do things. This in itself is probably one of the reasons why advocacy organizations receive the majority of their revenue from individuals and foundations who agree with what they are fighting for. This revenue profile is very different then most other non-profits including education, health, and social services. Another huge difference in the advocacy non-profits is how they impact society. Most non-profits have a specific audience in which they directly serve: for example schools on students, hospitals on patients. However advocacy organizations affect society by working through other institutions to actually create a change in policies or laws.

Advocacy groups play a highly important role in society because they challenge the way things are at a current time that are usually put in place by the actions and policies made from government, business, and other large non-profits. Personally I believe this is one of the most critical aspects of how things get done in America. In providing critical feedback on the happenings of a higher power (government of big businesses) it enables power to be distributed more evenly throughout society. Other counties do not have a set up in which people can congregate by what change they believe in, and fight to make it happen. Instead they are forced to follow the laws and ways of their society put in place by a government or higher power. Think for a second of what America would still be like if there was no change put in place by the voices of the people.... it is a scary thought for myself. Of course criticism usually is not highly looked upon and often angers those higher in power, but because we live in a country where free speech is allowed, those angered can not punish up for the criticism given. The following is a quote from a Douglas (1983, p. 24) who O’Neill stated in his book, which gets to the root of what I am explaining:

“By organizing themselves into a pressure group, the members of a minority who believe that some course of government action would infringe values or freedoms that they regard as fundamental can articulate those beliefs in a way that enables legislators and other agencies of government to take account of them and thus avoid the need for more desperate or violent forms of protest.”

O’Neill states that the success rate for the societal impact of the work done by advocacy groups “has been far from perfect” (O’Neill 141). He states that the after effects of many social movements by advocacy groups are unclear, so yes I guess that would categorize as imperfect. However to me this does not mean ineffective or not beneficial in any way. It is even noted to be difficult to pin point how many volunteers and members have been active in advocacy work over the years. Yet many studies of social movements throughout history “make it clear that at least hundreds of thousands, and probably millions, of Americans are involved in some form of advocacy volunteering” (O’Neill 140). History proves to be right here!

Those involved in advocacy work tend to “circulate in an extensive network of social action” (O’Neill 148). This I have always observed, yet really never came to the realization that it was in fact true until now. When I look upon my own experience I find that this is almost always true. Those who are involved with the Women’s Center on campus are usually involved in other organizations fighting for justice or awareness on other issues besides women’s rights. For me, being involved in Native Hawaiian reforestation movements came first; then I joined different environmental advocacy groups along the way; and participated in different events for women’s rights, sexual abuse awareness, and the discrimination against racial minorities when I got to college. Today I would proudly call myself an environmentalist, feminist, and anti-racist equal rights advocate; with all that I fight for having equal importance.

In conclusion to this lengthy post, I would encourage my readers to think about what they believe in.... and if change is needed in that area to better our society. Then think about what you currently do to fight for that change. Do you do anything? If yes great, you are a part of history! If no, then I challenge you to fight for what you believe in. Change is what this country was founded on, and is what will continue to shape the United Sates of America.