Everyday Action Toolkit

As the social and political climate continues to change, it is vital that we use our strengths as members of the Commonwealth to create conversations and influence decisions that support survivors. All Kentuckians, including our neighbors, colleagues, families, and ourselves, add distinct value to the lives and wellbeing of survivors, and even have the power to influence meaningful change in our policies and systems. This tool kit will help you to learn how to speak up about survivors with people in your life and cultivate change that creates safe lives and safe futures for all Kentuckians.

What is Advocacy? Advocacy is defined as the act of speaking up or working on behalf of the interests of another person, group, or cause. Advocacy can occur in our daily lives, both personally and professionally, or on a systems level. While the word advocacy sometimes involves large actions such as taking part in a rally, or meeting with your congressional representative, advocacy for survivors can take many forms, including:

• Engaging your family, friends, coworkers, and communities in conversations about our collective impact on survivors 
• Sending an email to a local, state, or federal legislator 
• Educating others about the value of survivors lives, their lived experiences, and the ways this shapes the future for all Kentuckians.  

Small steps over time can create big changes to the safety of our Commonwealth and this document outlines ways to prepare for these everyday advocacy conversations. ZeroV has adapted content provided by NNEDV's guide for Informed Conversations About Domestic Violence and included tips of our own and local resources to help you advocate in your everyday life. The items included in this Everyday Advocacy Toolkit are based on best practices, some of which you may recognize in your own actions that you already engage in on a daily basis.