Habits for Authentic Advocacy
If you’re reading this blog post, you’ve heard of Dressember in some facet. Typically, the first way most people get involved with Dressember is by participating in the style challenge or donating during the month of December. If you’re not familiar with the style challenge, every day in December, advocates wear dresses and/or ties to raise awareness for anti-human trafficking organizations. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised every year through this campaign, but what many are unaware of is that the movement continues throughout the year, and you can be a part of it.
Throughout the month, we’ll discuss habits for sustainable and authentic advocacy that can help you avoid burnout and contribute meaningfully year-round. In the meantime, here are some tips to extend your advocacy for the long term:
Join the Collective
One way you can continue to advocate with Dressember year-round is by joining the Dressember Collective. Your commitment as a part of the Collective is donating to Dressember monthly, and you choose the amount you give. With your membership comes a myriad of opportunities, such as exclusive anti-trafficking updates from around the world, live virtual events with special guests and ethical brand partner offers. The Collective webpage gives specifics for donation amounts, inspiring members to give anywhere from $17 to $94 a month, all for different tiers of impact (vocational training, court fees, etc.). Being a part of the Collective takes your excitement for advocating with Dressember and puts it into action year-round.
Be a conscious consumer
Being a conscious consumer is another way you can advocate against human trafficking. The Dressember blog is a great tool to learn more about ethical and sustainable fashion. We share articles and research that can help guide you specifically on how and where to make your wardrobe one to be proud of. We also have an Ethical Fashion Directory that is helpful as you begin to change your shopping habits as well. Supporting brands with high standards of materials and fair treatment of their workers is always something consumers can work towards, so why not start today?!
There are ways to give with your shopping habits beyond shopping specifically for ethically-made clothing. If you make purchases on Amazon, you can select Dressember as your charity for AmazonSmile, and 0.5% of eligible purchases will be donated to the campaign. You can also use CoinUp to round up your purchases online and donate to Dressember (learn how here). Intentional shopping is a great way to take something you do every day (purchasing) and make it into a tool for advocacy against human trafficking.
Learn & advocate all year round
Our team is always wanting to encourage education and awareness, and this fall we launched a blog series about policy when it comes to human trafficking. Throughout the year, you can always check out our blog posts to stay up to date and learn more about anti-trafficking efforts.
And of course, besides shopping and donating, the Dressember campaign doesn’t begin on December 1st. It begins earlier as you get your team together, purchase a couple of dresses and/or ties to wear every day and start making a plan for how you’re going to advocate. There are creative ways you can bring people into your mission also – bake cookies, make jewelry, paint on canvases to sell in order to bring in funds for your team’s campaign. Use the activities you love to be a part of something so impactful. And maybe you can even make the most of 2020, the most virtual year for many, by hosting watch parties for Dressember events. Learn how to host them here.
Check out www.dressember.org and take a look around for more inspiration. It’s bigger than a dress!
About the Author
Erin Diaz Cleveland is a writer and planner from Central Virginia. Her life goal is to use her passions to inspire and encourage others to serve and better themselves and their communities. She loves spending time with her family, instructing yoga and drinking iced espresso in the afternoon.