With a small sub-grant from the Partners Against eXploitation (PAX), itself supported by a grant from USD's Strategic Initiatives Fund, the USD Policy Advocacy Collaborative (UPAC) exists to expand and enhance policy-level engagement by USD students, faculty, staff and community partners.
The aims of UPAC are to:
- support peer-sharing/learning among those of us with advocacy experience;
- collect and develop education and training materials, including case studies;
- offer educational opportunities -- from introductory presentations for newbies to more advanced workshops that build on those presentations;
- promote current courses and support the development of new courses related to policy change;
- provide coaching for student organizations, research teams, USD's urgent challenges groups, community-based organizations, etc. interested in linking their work to policy change; and
- help the collaborative's campus and community members to reach and mobilize others in support of their own advocacy campaigns and initiatives.
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned for information on our events for the 2022-2023 academic year!
Past Events
- Student Advocacy Workshop
February 24, 2022 via Zoom
Geared towards undergraduate and graduate students at USD, this workshop will review the basics of advocacy through a case study on Free to Thrive's policy advocacy as well as guide students to brainstorm advocacy approaches for causes important to them.
Click here to listen to the recording. - How to Make a Difference: The Art of Advocacy Strategy
March 31, 2022 (12:00-1:30pm) via Zoom
Jim Shultz, advocate, author, and founder of the Democracy Center, led a dynamic workshop and discussion on policy advocacy strategies. Open to USD students, faculty, and community partners.
Click here to listen to the recording.