There are so many ways to advocate for changes you care about!
Whether you are interested in organizing in your community or working with elected officials from local to national levels, below are a few resources that can help you get started.
If you need some inspiration, hear from four incredible organizers and advocates who shared their stories and advice. Read on for connections to resources and trainings as well as opportunities to engage in ongoing advocacy work. Legislator contact info, hearing schedules, and more at the bottom.
Get Inspired
MFC, Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, and Full Plates Full Potential co-hosted an event in October 2024 with four panelists who have very different experiences with advocacy and community organizing - listen to the event! Read about the panelists here.
Build Your Skills and Connections
Do you need some more information or would you like to build your skills?
Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC) hosts an annual multi-day GROW workshop to help build your skills as a grassroots community organizer. ROSC also hosts Youth Activism Gatherings.
Just Me for Just Us are rural youth, working with rural youth, to protect the places and people that are so important to us. They offer trainings for youth advocates.
Nourishing Maine is about the nourishment of food for our bodies – and equal to that is the nourishment of our souls, and the nourishment we feel as part of the community of Maine. Our shared experiences, our connection to the land and water, and the amazing bounty of Maine food grown or produced right here will be brought together in the kitchen – a favorite place to be to share food with family and friends.
Full Plates Full Potential identifies legislative priorities that help address childhood food insecurity in Maine. Follow and engage with their work through their newsletters or if you are a youth, apply to be part of their Maine Youth Council focused on food access in schools.
Maine Network of Community Food Councils is a network of community based food councils like ours across the state of Maine. Our network can offer support if you are interested in help forming a council in your area!
Maine Food Policy Work Group - This group meets monthly to identify shared priorities for Maine food system policies. Contact Ken Morse or Amy Winston to get involved (contact info is on the linked website).
Maine Association of Non-Profits holds trainings for organizations on advocacy within non-profits. You can find toolkits, recorded webinars, resources, and upcoming events here. (NOTE: access to some webinar content is restricted to non-profit MANP members.)
League of Women Voters of Maine is a nonpartisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They never support or oppose any political party or candidate. Membership is open to anyone 16 years of age or older. They offer many resources for advocacy including: voter guides, how a bill becomes law, how to talk to your legislator, how to track issues you care about, tribal and state relations, and more. They also make it easy to take action via their website.
Maine Equal Justice works to improve public policies by working in partnership with people impacted by those policies and advocating for change. Visit this website to sign up to join in their advocacy work and for training resources. See their resources on how to write a letter to the editor and prepare testimony for a public hearing below.
TIPS ON HOW TO ENGAGE: Letters are extremely effective. Personal visits are also valuable. Personal postcards, phone calls, e-mails and well written letters all help. However you contact them, be sure to tell your legislator why you support or oppose a measure, telling your story will help them be an advocate for you.
Find committee membership and hearing schedules | Search bills by topic, committee, sponsor, etc.