Raise Your Hand Texas believes that effective advocacy takes all of us. The third annual Advocacy Summit in mid-December 2025 reflected that sentiment as educators, trustees, parents, and business leaders joined school board members and administrators at this critical learning event. This diverse group of stakeholders gathered to learn and to equip themselves with the tools and best practices needed to advocate for public education in their communities.

“You all are bringing something different to the table that is vital,” Amy Dodson, Raise Your Hand Texas dean of advocacy, told Summit participants. “Listening and educating is how we do it, and we can’t do it alone.”

Advocacy strategies, tools, and hands-on learning

On day two, Raise Your Hand regional advocacy director Deann Lee introduced “power mapping,” a strategic method to analyze power and relationships within a community regarding a policy issue or in relation to a policymaker, to inform advocacy strategy. 

Next, Raise Your Hand Texas executive director Libby Cohen reminded advocates that listening is the foundation for advocacy. The first tool for effective advocacy is a “relational meeting,” a one-on-one conversation that focuses on curiosity and understanding, not conversion. 

The second tool for effective advocacy is a “listening circle.” In this facilitated group gathering, people share personal experiences and feelings on a specific topic in a safe, nonjudgmental space, with a focus on deep listening and empathy rather than debate or problem-solving. Giovanni Escobedo, senior regional advocacy director at Raise Your Hand Texas, facilitated a brief listening circle.

Establishing an ‘information diet’ and engaging ‘vertically’

On the final day of the Summit, Raise Your Hand Texas senior director of strategic communications Anne Lasseigne Tiedt emphasized the importance of establishing a strong information network for effective advocacy. She highlighted that most informed citizens synthesize different perspectives from four main source types: official sources, journalists, think tanks, and advocates. She urged Summit participants to establish an “information diet” to stay abreast of relevant developments in public education in Texas.

Finally, advocates participated in a series of interactive sessions on power mapping. Led by Matt Hall, Raise Your Hand Texas lead organizer for statewide campaigns, these exercises acknowledged that power takes many forms, from institutional leaders and local media to “sleeping giants” — individuals with untapped influence. Ultimately, this segment underscored that voters are the base of a legislator’s power and that advocates should use tools such as public precinct-level voting data to mobilize constituents.

Dodson then defined “vertical engagement,” the process of building, maintaining, and growing relationships with elected officials, particularly during the long interim period between sessions. Tools for this include meeting with local staff, hosting listening circles, and making oneself a trusted resource to inform the legislator, using personal stories, being specific with asks, and offering “fixes” or solutions.

Empowering advocacy: Bringing it back home

While advocacy looks different across the state, school districts are ready to engage and unite in efforts leading to the success of students. Trustees, superintendents, teachers, and community members plan to return home and take action, including:

• Hosting board-led advocacy workshops
• Adding legislative advocacy to board meeting agendas
• Creating legislative subcommittees to engage new allies
• Scheduling a meeting with a Raise Your Hand Texas regional advocacy director
• Engaging the community in year-round advocacy
• Building a stronger get-out-the-vote culture
• Preparing legislative agendas and integrating listening circles

Raise Your Hand Texas gives a heartfelt thank you to Huckabee, VLK Architects, CORE, Thompson & Horton, and Siebert Williams Shank for sponsoring the Advocacy Summit. We truly appreciate your passion for impacting lives through your work and your shared commitment to education.