Tips for Virtual Advocacy This Dressember
Although this year is a little different because of the pandemic, it doesn’t stop our team from inviting you to take part in Dressember’s goal and mission.
Since our Dressember advocates are from all around the world, social media advocacy has always been doable. Working virtually and connecting with our partners and advocates is more relevant than ever.
At Dressember, we encourage everyone to be a participant and to actively advocate against human trafficking. This can be done in so many different ways, and we want to encourage you to use your social media platforms and connect online with your communities.
Here are some tips on how you can utilize virtual resources to be an advocate with Dressember:
Connect & learn with staff
Dressember is known to host Instagram live sessions and Zoom webinars, and we love featuring our programmatic partners, our CEO/founder Blythe Hill and members of the community that are actively trying to fight against human trafficking.
On Dressember’s website, you can find online events accessible from all around the world. Webinars, discussions and even virtual events are an opportunity for you to learn more about anti-human trafficking efforts as well as how to understand more about identifying trafficking and relaying that information to your own network of people.
Create a fundraising goal
Here at Dressember, we believe anyone and everyone can educate our communities and be a part of our fundraising efforts. The team has created a fun and accessible virtual fundraising guide that breaks down creating networking maps, gives tips on what can be done through different social media platforms and teaches you how you can host and participate in the style challenge.
You might think that your fundraising goal might be unachievable, but you’d be surprised at how many people start participating when they know a little more about your mission and why you’re advocating.
Remember that with the fundraising goal, it’s not always about the donations. The purpose is also to share vital information that will raise awareness for the fight against human trafficking and to talk about an uncomfortable topic with your viewers/supporters.
Up Your Social Media Game
Let me guess: You think you don’t have enough followers because you don’t have a verified blue checkmark next to your social media handles? No problem.
Here at Dressember, we have found that it’s not about the number of followers you have, but the way your followers interact with the content you are sharing. Engage your followers in understanding your goal.
Just like you might promote that you’re supporting an organization on Facebook for your birthday, you can do the same with some of these steps that Dressember provides. The how-to guide breaks down how you might be able to use your own social media platforms to share some interesting statistics about human trafficking and even interact with experts and organizations in that field.
Host Virtual Events/Digital Watch Parties
Now that many of us are probably stuck working from home, this is a great opportunity to invite more friends to host virtual Zoom events where we can talk and discuss movies/shows that address human trafficking.
You can leverage some of Dressember’s advocacy tips and create your own watch parties while enjoying your favorite snacks with friends and family.
Now that you have some tips on how to be a part of Dressember virtually, connect with family and friends and showcase some of the cool events you’re hosting to help advocate against human trafficking and show support to survivors.
About the Author
Daniela (D) Molina is a Cuban gal pursuing a M.S. in Journalism at Indiana University. Since she was young she knew that words had power. She absolutely loves moths and is proud to speak Spanish with whoever she meets.