Grassroots Advocacy Trainings
Interfaith Peace-Builders will not hold a Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day in 2012. Instead, we are supporting the Occupy AIPAC mobilization and summit on March 2 - 6, 2012 in Washington, DC. We plan on bringing the Training back in coming years, but if you are interested in an important and similar event, come out for Occupy AIPAC!
Bring your voice to DC as we take the demands of the #occupy movement to the political elite! Join IFPB, CODEPINK, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, and hundreds of other groups, at Occupy AIPAC!
The Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day
A core feature of our expanded Education and Advocacy Program, IFPB’s Grassroots Advocacy Trainings bring together activists, experts and individuals from communities around the United States and North America for hands-on workshops and activist skills trainings. A lobby day following the training adds an immediate action component and an opportunity for participants to develop congressional engagement skills and experience by addressing their concerns to their elected officials.
IFPB held our first Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day in February 2009 as part of our ongoing efforts to promote civic engagement and build a stronger US-based movement for Israeli-Palestinian peace. The second event took place in March 2010 and the third in 2011. Each Grassroots Advocacy Training was organized in partnership with the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and their more than 300 member organizations nationwide.
Each Grassroots Advocacy Trainings brought together nearly 200 people from almost 30 states and the District of Columbia. Each year, participants have held approximately 70 meetings with their congressional representatives’ offices pushing for a fair application of US foreign policy based on international law, humanitarian measures, and an end to US military aid to Israel.
Interfaith Peace-Builders has continued to work with Grassroots Advocacy Training participants by disseminating research and information and encouraging further congressional engagement and advocacy. Participants have expanded the ranks of IFPB’s active network of delegation participants and constituents.
Interfaith Peace-Builders has made the event part of our expanded Education and Advocacy Program. The next event is slated to take place in early 2012 and will also include a citizen's lobbing component.