The most effective advocates will tell you: to make a difference with your personal story, be sure you start by setting a crystal-clear goal.
And as Bev Bachel, author of What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and Go for It notes, the key to realizing any goal is putting it in writing … and then sharing it.
With that in mind, here are some of the 2020 goals set by advocates featured in Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference. If they inspire you to share your goals with us, please do (and have a chance to win a copy of Living Proof and an “I am Living Proof” journal).
For whom or what will you advocate in 2020? How will you share your story?
Jacob Smith, global road safety activist and National Safety Council program manager
“I want to re-craft my story pitch and share it with five schools within the District of Columbia Metropolitan School area.”
“My 2020 goal is to help educate the public and legislators on the various causes of homelessness in order to create more community support and policy changes throughout the State of Washington.”
Mindy Woods, advocate for housing and people who are homeless with the Resident Action Project
Christina Sparrock, CPA and mental health advocate
“To influence New York City public safety and health policies to increase non-police responses to mental health calls, offer more 24/7 health-care services and Certified Peer Specialists to engage with people who are having an emotional crisis.”
“Through the nonprofit I’ve created, provide free technical training to foster youth so they can obtain gainful employment in information technology without going into debt.”
Ricardo Rodriguez, Foster Youth alumni
Mikael Wagner, advocate for the truth and what's right for people of colour
“To develop and provide communication strategies on how to work with the African American, Latino/Hispanic, and Transgender communities so there is equity in how vital health information is received, disseminated and accepted in order to save lives.”
“I will be refining the story about my brother Bill’s death from a methadone overdose in 2006. My telling will now include how Bill’s death impacted the immediate family, and I’ll tell about the related circumstances that led to the recent accidental death of his son, Jessie, who was just 15 when he found Bill dead and tried to revive him.”
Rex Butler, member, National Safety Council’s Survivor Advocate Network
Paul Currington, member, The Stability Network
“I want to give my speech for the first time outside of a Stability Network event.”
“I resolve to express my life experiences with more inclusive details and home in on specific issues that are often omitted from broader discussions of solutions.”
Brian Kulas, community advocate
So, what’s your advocacy goal for 2020? Let us know (and have a chance to win a copy of Living Proof and an “I am Living Proof” journal).
