Advocacy in Action: Building Relationships in Our Community

Dear SafeHouse Supporters,

This month, SafeHouse is participating in ACADV’s Advocacy in Action: September District Days, a statewide effort to strengthen relationships between domestic violence programs and the elected officials who represent the communities we serve.

As Executive Director, I’ll be spending time this month connecting with our state legislators and their staff to introduce them to SafeHouse, share what we see every day in our work with survivors and families, and help them understand the resources available in our communities.

Why are we doing this?

The decisions made by elected officials can have a significant impact on survivors and the services they rely on, including access to safe housing, healthcare, victim services, public safety resources, and funding.

But September District Days is not about lobbying for or against specific legislation. There is no vote we are asking legislators to take.

Instead, the goal is simple: build relationships before we need them.

When legislators know the people behind the services in their communities, understand what those services provide, and hear directly about the challenges survivors face, SafeHouse becomes a trusted local resource. That relationship matters—not just today, but when questions about domestic violence, victim services, or community needs arise in the future.

What I’ll be sharing

During these conversations, I’ll be talking about SafeHouse and the communities we serve, including:

• The continuum of services SafeHouse provides to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
• The needs and challenges we see among survivors and families in our service area.
• The impact of SafeHouse services in our communities.
• The importance of accessible, comprehensive victim services.
• The partnerships that make our work possible.
• The ways SafeHouse serves as a resource for survivors, families, and the broader community.

I’ll also be listening. These meetings are an opportunity to learn more about our legislators, their priorities, and how we can continue to be a resource to them and their staff.

You can be an advocate, too.

Advocacy doesn’t have to mean making a speech at the State House or knowing every piece of legislation moving through Montgomery. Some of the most effective advocacy is simply helping people understand what we do and why it matters.

Here are a few ways you can participate:

Know our story.

Be able to explain, in your own words, what SafeHouse does and why our services matter. You don’t have to memorize statistics or a script. Just be able to tell someone what you do and how it helps survivors.

Share the impact—without sharing confidential information.

When appropriate, talk about the needs you see in our community and the difference our services make. A general example of a barrier a survivor may face can be powerful without identifying an individual survivor.

Help us tell the local story.

Our legislators need to understand that domestic violence isn’t an abstract issue happening somewhere else. It affects the people who live, work, worship, attend school, and raise families right here in our communities.

Share SafeHouse information.

If you know a community leader, elected official, civic organization, faith community, or other partner who would benefit from learning more about SafeHouse, help make the connection. Introductions and relationships matter.

Stay informed.

Pay attention to the information SafeHouse shares about advocacy opportunities. When there is an appropriate opportunity for community members to contact an elected official, we will make the request clear and provide the information you need.

Remember that your voice matters.

You don’t have to be an expert to be an advocate. You are an expert in the work you do every day. Your experiences and understanding of the needs in our community help tell the story of why these services are important.

Advocacy is more than one meeting.

September District Days is a starting point, not a one-time event.

The goal is to develop relationships with our elected officials before a crisis, funding challenge, or legislative issue arises. We want legislators to know who SafeHouse is, what we do, and that we are available as a trusted resource when they have questions about domestic violence and the needs of survivors in our communities.

Every conversation is an opportunity to educate. Every introduction is an opportunity to build a relationship. And every relationship helps ensure that the experiences and needs of survivors remain part of the conversation about Alabama’s future.

Thank you for being part of the SafeHouse team and for helping us be a voice for survivors—not only through the services we provide, but through the relationships we build in our community.

 

Warmly,

Janelle Sierra

Executive Director

SafeHouse