Getting Started
Advocacy takes courage, persistence, and effort. It's going to be hard, but you can do this.
Consider the steps below to start your advocacy journey.
writing your ask
First, it's important to formulate your ask. Your ask is the solution you're proposing to whatever you're struggling with. Write your ask as a statement. Though unwritten, it must have a well-thought-out reasoning behind it explaining why this is the best, plausible solution. It needs to be concise, specific, and realistic.
When introducing our ask at meetings, we place it after our presentation so it doesn't get buried by the presentation and is a great transition into the discussion.
Here is an example we used to lobby our district:
example asks
Provide a dedicated, and equitable Maker/Engineering Space for all BSD (our school district) FIRST Robotics Teams.
Ensure that every robotics team has a yearly expected position for each High School at a district level.
Consider working with Teaching & Learning to develop a plan to provide a zero-period type academic credit option for students at each High School.
reasoning
Within our presentation we defined what a dedicated Maker/Engineering Space is.
A space that can support the machinery and tools needed
Space for whole team meetings + smaller sub-teams workspaces
A Secure Storage Space (materials, robots, pit materials, etc)
A space that's available year round
Adequate and Accessible Space on or within walking distance of Campus.
Ideally in partnerships with CTE Programs within the school
Having things specifically defined ensures that there is no confusion in the future.
This condition is straightforward but important, we want to ensure the future of our teams.
After reviewing academic credit within our district we strongly believe Robotics falls within that definition and that our students should be granted credit.
Additionally, gaining credit changes the culture of robotics within our school which will then garner more respect for robotics. Being more respected discourages people from taking away our shop space and creates the opportunity to ask for paid coaches.
local alliances
A local advocacy alliance is a union of teams coming together to lobby for the good of STEM education and robotics.
Local Alliances can be very beneficial for a number of reasons, including that it:
Builds a community that can combine efforts for a stronger impact!
Makes the most of an invitee's time during meetings by having multiple teams there at once.
Proves that what your lobbying against is a systematic issue that affects many teams, legitimizing your arguments.
Illustrates that this is an issue affecting numerous people, making it a higher priority.
Creates a space where you can share specific local opportunities to advocate.
Look within your community and see if there are other teams with similar struggles. Consider forming an alliance to support one another so you can both thrive. and pursue your love for robotics.
taking action
With your ask figured out and a community to support you, begin advocating to take charge of your future!
In the "Resources" tab there is further guidance on where to take it from here.