3 ways to advocate for afterschool

We’re just two days away from the Afterschool for All Challenge! Brave kids from across the nation, including our inaugural class of Youth Afterschool Ambassadors, are heading to D.C. to take the case for afterschool direct to their members of Congress. While they’re on Capitol Hill, we’re asking you and other afterschool supporters at home to support them with your clicks, calls, and emails.

Place a call

Short of an in-person visit, reaching out to your member of Congress’ office by phone is the best way to make an impact. Join our phone call power hour on Thursday, April 19 or take a few minutes from your lunch break to use our free click-to-call tool and urge your policymaker to support funding for afterschool programs. Not sure what to say? The call tool includes a script with talking points, so you’ll have all the information you need at your fingertips.

Send an email

Copy the language from our sample email blast in the Digital Action Toolkit and send a message to your contacts urging them to support afterschool programs on Thursday. The email links to 3to6.co/challenge18 and offers an opportunity for afterschool supporters to send a prepopulated and preaddressed email or make a phone call to their policymaker’s office.

Advocate on social media

Have you RSVPed to join the Afterschool for All Challenge on Facebook? Click here to register for our online Day of Action.

Social media can be a powerful tool to encourage conversation and accountability with policymakers; your post will be displayed in public, where other supporters can engage and amplify your message. Use the links 3to6.co/tweet and 3to6.co/facebook to access tweets and wall posts prepopulated with your policymaker’s handles, along with a message urging their support of afterschool.

Grab a sample tweet from our Digital Action Toolkit or draft your own posts during the day. Be sure to include the link 3to6.co/challenge18 so fellow afterschool supporters can reach out to their members of Congress. As always, use the hashtag #AfterschoolWorks so we can see your post and help promote your message!