Advocate

Join the cause. Make your voice heard. Create Real Change.

Throughout our history, United Way has done extraordinary work to improve people’s lives and build strong communities. With our focus on community impact, United Way has a key role to play in advocating for good public policy. Without community input, our priorities in Education, Financial Stability, and Health will lose critical government policy and funding support.

Join us and advocate for an Education, Financial Stability, Health, or nonprofit strengthening issue that you are passionate about. Your community needs you to impact public policy decisions. Advocating in your community does not simply mean lobbying on a specific piece of legislation.

What does it mean to advocate?
It's a power that we all have. It's standing up for others and what you believe in your heart. It can be championing a cause or simply not being silent.
United Way of Marion County invites you to be part of the change by speaking up to influence the condition of all.
 
Who is an advocate? You are an advocate.
  • If you tell your friend, neighbor, loved one, or family member that you give to United Way, you're an advocate.
  • If you work with a Partner Agency and speak on behalf of United Way, you're an advocate.
  • If you serve United Way as a volunteer or staff member within your workplace or are engaged in one of our all-volunteer boards, you're an advocate.
  • And if you are a current or past Loaned Executive, you're definitely an advocate.
 
There are many ways that you can advocate. See below for ways you can create social change in your local community.

 

Request a Speaker from United Way
The Speakers' Bureau of the United Way of Marion County is a key element in our ties to the community. United Way asks the community to join hands with us in caring for local needs, so it is logical for community members to ask, "Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?"
 
Our objective is to prepare trained speakers from all aspects of United Way's organization - agency representatives, agency clients, loaned executives, Board of Director members, and staff - to meet with community groups. Even though we live in a high-tech world, old-fashioned public speaking has a great impact. Your face puts a face on United Way. Your voice speaks for those who can't speak for themselves.
 
If you are interested in joining the Speakers' Bureau or would like a speaker from United Way to speak to your club or organization, call 352-732-9696.
 
PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES
United Way’s public policy priorities are focused on improving our community’s education, health, and financial stability. We partner on a state-wide which represents the collective voice of 32 local United Ways in Florida and the United Way of Florida. We also work with United Way Worldwide on key federal issues. The following are our public policy priorities:
 
Speak Out
Contact your representative in Congress about an Education, Financial Stability, Health or nonprofit strengthening issue.
State legislative priorities:
 
Tax Reform
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
 
Be Informed
Learn how your community ranks in academic attainment, income stability and health. Use the United Way Common Good Forecaster, a powerful online tool that lets people see for themselves how improving the education level has a positive impact on several key economic and social measures.
 
Engage with your community
Host a community conversation with your friends, coworkers or neighbors. Learn about what people say are their aspirations for your community and talk about how you can work together to address challenges.

Raise Awareness About a Cause
Use social media tools to educate your friends and networks about an issue you care about.

Here are some tools and resources to help you get started on advocating for change that improves life for all of us in Marion County: 
Florida State Legislature: Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate
 
 

Advocacy Quick Links:

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