(Best.Practices) YAA TAKE ACTION ALERT -- June/July 2001

Tue Jul 3 11:53:34 EDT 2001

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National Network for Youth
YAA TAKE ACTION ALERT -- June/July 2001

The YAA TAKE ACTION ALERT is part of the National Network for Youth's
Campaign for Younger Americans. The YAA TAKE ACTION ALERT is distributed to
National Network members each month and includes a concrete advocacy
activity to help you promote the Younger Americans Act in your community
and/or on Capitol Hill.  Pass on the YAA TAKE ACTION ALERT to other youth
and youth advocates in your community!

<p>YAA Take Action Alert - June/July 2001
YOUTH MOBILIZATION!

The National Network has joined a nationwide effort to engage youth in
advocacy for the Younger Americans Act (YAA). We encourage our members to
join forces with other youth-serving agencies this summer in order to
maximize the impact of our efforts.  Contact Cassandra McKee at (202)
783-7949 ext. 3112 or via e-mail at: mailto:cmckee at NN4Youth.org to find
other organizations in your area interested in collaborating on YAA advocacy
efforts, or to receive a packet of information to help you get started.

Please pass this YAA Take Action Alert along to young people in your
community today!

TAKE ACTION!
Members of Congress need to hear from youth about their experiences, needs,
and the issues that are important to them. This summer legislators must hear
from youth about the YAA!

Get the facts! The best advocate is an informed advocate.  Gather
information about the YAA and brush up on the legislative process. Make sure
that you have a copy of the National Network's YAA Mobilization Kit: it
includes information about the YAA and how to contact your legislators and
the media.  Another National Network publication, "Being an Effective Youth
Advocate," is a guide that can help you understand the legislative process,
how bills become laws, and much more.  Call or email Cassandra McKee to
receive copies of these materials: (202) 783-7949 ext. 3112 or
cmckee at nn4youth.org.

Create a coalition! The YAA will benefit all young people, but many have not
yet heard about it.  Tell your friends and other young people in your
community about the YAA. Contact local youth groups or programs for youth
and invite them to get involved. Once you have identified other youth
interested in the YAA, form a coalition: bring everyone together to share
information and ideas on how to show your support for the YAA.  Check out
the "Youth Advocacy Kit" at http://www.nydic.org/YAA.html (available soon)
for more information on starting a youth coalition.

Spread the word!  Your coalition can post fact sheets and flyers in public
places where youth hang out.  Ask an adult if they will sponsor an
information night-invite youth to come and learn about the YAA.  Talk about
why youth should support the YAA, and how they can advocate for it.  Invite
these youth to join your coalition.

Advocate!  Advocacy-showing active support for something-may seem
intimidating at first, but making a difference can be as simple as writing
letters and making phone calls.  Advocacy is easier and can be fun when you
have others who are joining you.  First, find out who your Members of
Congress are.  If you have access to the Internet, go to
http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm to find out who your Senators
are, and http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html to find out who your
Representative is.  Once you know who to contact, you can take action!  Here
are some advocacy ideas for your coalition:

Organize a call-in day for your youth coalition.  Ask an adult, church, or
youth program to donate the money needed to make long distance calls, or ask
to use their phone free of charge.  The Capitol Switchboard will connect you
to your Members of Congress' office: (202) 225-3121. Or, call your Members
of Congress' local offices-you can find the numbers in your phone book.
Take turns calling your Members of Congress and asking them to support and
cosponsor the YAA. Use the National Network's YAA Mobilization Kit for tips
on what to say when calling your Members of Congress.

Organize a letter writing campaign.  Hold a meeting for your youth coalition
and ask everyone to write a letter to their Members of Congress, urging them
to support the YAA.  The coalition members will be more likely to write
letters if you all write them together, during the meeting.  Your letter
should say why the YAA is important to you and other youth.  You may wish to
include personal information about your experiences.  Ask adults, local
businesses or youth groups to donate supplies and stamps.  Mail the letters
to your Members of Congress' federal offices in Washington, D.C.  See the
Mobilization Kit for tips on writing letters and a sample letter.

Stay Informed! The National Network is a YAA resource for you.  Call, write
or email us and let us know how we can help you!  We can provide you with
updates on the YAA, information about how to advocate, and ideas for how to
get other youth excited about the YAA.  We can also provide you with
materials such as fact sheets and flyers. We can even connect you with other
YAA youth advocates in your area!

Brag a little!  The National Network wants to hear from you about your YAA
advocacy!  Do you have a success story to share? Tell us what has worked for
you, and what has not worked so well. Talk to us about writing an article
for "Policy Reporter," the public policy newsletter of the National Network.
Contact Cassandra McKee at (202) 783-7949 ext. 3112 or cmckee at NN4Youth.org .

<p>******************************
Join the National Network for Youth today!  National Network for Youth
members receive public policy and advocacy materials, training, and
technical assistance on issues critical to youth, discounted registration
for Symposium, and much more!  YOUTH can join the National Network for just
$5 a year!  Call the membership services team at (202) 783-7949 ext. 3111
and join today!

<p><p>Cassandra McKee
National Network for Youth
1319 F Street, NW
Suite 401
Washington, DC 20004
Phone:  202-783-7949 ext. 3112
Fax:      202-783-7955
cmckee at NN4Youth.org

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