Tips for Being an Effective Online Advocate

Help Alaska youth with a click of your mouse! Thanks to technology, standing up for afterschool programs has never been easier. Learn to use your computer or mobile device to fight for laws that support our youth.

Your Legislators Are on Social Media & You Should Be, Too

Don’t be afraid to jump right in — setting up accounts on Facebook and Twitter is quick, easy and free! Be sure to follow your elected officials and important organizations like the Alaska Afterschool Network. Look for the blue checkmark next to the legislator’s name — that means it’s a verified account. Following the people and organizations relevant to the issues you care about will keep you informed and connected.

Don't Be Shy: Reach Out to Media and Policymakers

Use social media to send messages directly to your legislators with the action you want them to take. Have a blog or press release? You can send it to members of the media and bloggers to try to gain coverage for the issue. And be sure to tweet and message organizations like the Alaska Afterschool Network to form partnerships with Alaska youth organizations and causes.

Connect with Like-Minded Advocates — Share, Share, Share

Share tweets and Facebook posts from the Alaska Afterschool Network and encourage your network to take action, or use hashtags (#) and keywords such as #AKafterschool that other youth advocates are using to create connections. This will make you part of a larger, unified voice for kids in Alaska that can have an enormous effect on policy.

E-mail Your Legislators — And Make It Personal

Personalized emails are more likely to make your legislators sit up and take notice, so take the time to politely tell them why a particular bill or youth-related issue is important to you.  Strive to communicate as professionally as possible — just as you would in a face-to-face meeting — and don’t forget to be specific, cite facts, check your spelling, and be polite! Find your legislators and how to contact them here.