One of the most important ways we can all stand up for survivors and safer communities is through political advocacy. That is why the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Jane Doe Inc. (JDI), is hosting an Advocacy Day where passionate folks like you voice support for laws that protect survivors and increase their access to survivor services at BARCC and other agencies across the Commonwealth. We’re putting together a team of volunteers and supporters to talk with lawmakers about what we do and why supporting survivors is essential for our communities.
- When: Wednesday, March 15, 2024 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Where: Massachusetts State House
- How: Register at barcc.org/advocacyday!
What Should I Expect?
This Advocacy Day, supporters will convene at the state house to hear from some of our legislative champions and organizers in our field. After getting inspired by their words and enjoying some refreshments, we’ll split up into groups depending on where in Massachusetts we live and who our lawmakers are. Then, groups will head to their representatives’ offices to share why they should support our legislative and funding priorities and how they benefit survivors.
You don’t have to be a professional lobbyist, attorney, or service provider to participate. In fact, some of the most impactful meetings happen when regular people bring their stories to their legislators directly.
Most groups will meet with several different legislators’ offices for a few minutes each, just enough time to give some information to the lawmakers’ staff and share a personal anecdote or reason for why supporting survivors matters.
Why Should I Participate?
JDI’s Advocacy Day is an opportunity for people all across the Commonwealth who care about survivors to come to the state house and tell their elected officials about the things that matter to them. The power of Advocacy Day is in both numbers and the personal experiences all of us bring to the table. Here are five reasons BARCC and other advocates love participating in Advocacy Day:
- Connect with folks who care about survivors: Meet other passionate folks from all across Massachusetts who care about survivors. Advocacy Day is a great way to make connections with fellow advocates who you can rely on for support while engaging in the essential but challenging work of advocating for survivors.
- Develop advocacy skills: We don’t expect folks to show up at the state house and talk to legislators without getting any support or training! Advocacy Day is a chance to build an advocacy toolkit you can use on March 15 and beyond. BARCC is hosting a virtual training session on March 7th, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. If you can’t make it, Jane Doe’s is also hosting a prep session on the same day from 1 – 2:30 p.m.
- Learn about what’s happening in the field: Keeping up with changes in the world of survivor services can be difficult in the midst of our busy lives. Advocacy Day is one of the easiest ways to learn about important legislative issues and how they impact survivors.
- Meet your lawmakers: It isn’t every day most of us get to talk to our state lawmakers, people who have a lot of influence over our communities and day-to-day lives. Advocacy Day is one of the best ways to meet your legislators and their staff while surrounded by like-minded advocates
- Make a change: The most exciting and important part of Advocacy Day is that it can bring us one step closer to a world free of sexual violence! When we come together for days like this, the energy, optimism, and momentum feels powerful.
What Policies Will We Be Advocating For?
We will share more information for participants as we get closer to Advocacy Day, but here are a few of the bills that are at the top of BARCC’s and Jane Doe’s legislative priorities this session:
- HB3084/SB1990: An Act Relative to Language Access and Inclusion. This bill highlights the gaps that exist for people who need support from the state in languages other than English and mandates state agencies meet appropriate language access needs. This legislation is critical to supporting survivors whose first language is not English.
- HB544/SB268: An Act Relative to Healthy Youth (A.K.A Healthy Youth Act). The Healthy Youth Act ensures that only high-quality, inclusive sex and relationship education is taught in public schools. This legislation will help prevent sexual violence and promote healthy relationships. Learn more.
- HB2288/SB1510: An Act to Protect the Civil Rights and Safety of All Massachusetts Residents (A.K.A. Safe Communities Act). The Safe Communities Act guarantees basic rights for immigrants interacting with the criminal justice system and ensures that state and local law enforcement aren’t deputized as federal immigration agents. This legislation will help provide support for survivors regardless of their immigration status.
- The VOCA Bridge: BARCC is also collaborating with Jane Doe and over 40 other advocacy agencies to ask our legislators to fully fund victim services work in Massachusetts, closing the gap that exists between what the federal government used to allocate to the commonwealth through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Funding and what it has allocated over the past three years. The VOCA Bridge is a request to replace these lost federal dollars with state funding and is essential to ensuring that BARCC and other agencies can provide high-quality survivor services without having to cut staff or limit support due to budget constraints. Read more.
How Do I Sign Up?
If you’d like to join the BARCC team for Advocacy Day, we’d love to have you! All we need is for you to fill out this short Google form to register. Keep your eyes on your email for more information about the logistics of the day and next steps.
If you’d like to come to Advocacy Day but would rather join with another organization or come solo, you can always register on the Jane Doe website as well!
Still Have Questions?
If you’ve got other questions or thoughts, please connect with Dave Rini, Systems Advocacy Senior Director, at DRini@barcc.org.
We hope to see you at advocacy day!
