J.U.S.T. isn't my cup of tea

Well, as I said earlier, I hung out at Asbury Memorial Church for the J.U.S.T. meeting, as that's an organization I'd heard about for several years since the pandemic.

The purpose of the meeting was to drum up interest in the group, as well as teach participants about advocacy for a cause.

So, what does that acronym stand for?

Justice Unites Savannah Together.

According to their website, J.U.S.T. is an interfaith group which actively works with local government to improve situations for Savannah's citizens.

It began in 2019, and has taken on four projects since then.

As explained in the primer today, there are several steps that a group needs to take when advocating for change. 

First, determine which problem needs to be resolved.

For that step, specificity is key.

Next, determine which department of the government can resolve the issue.

Then, organize a campaign to inform that department of the problem, to postulate a possible solution, and carry through with contact.

Last, be sure to have a timeline for resolution of the problem.

For example, don't say that veterans need more housing.

Specify which veterans, specify how many veterans, specify where such housing would best be located... and so on.

I was actually surprised at how many novices there were at this informational meeting.

I was even more surprised that so many of them were within ten years of my age.

This was their first time being an advocate?

Really?

I've advocated for research funding for the American Chemical Society as well as for the Alpha Chi Sigma professional chemistry fraternity. 

I've advocated for new national marine sanctuaries as well as support for those already established by the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation.

I've advocated for One Hundred Miles and for Georgia Conservancy, two organizations that protect Georgia's coast and all life within it.

I've advocated for removal of dyes in children's food, removal of heavy metals in chocolate, and other food issues for Consumer Reports.

I've advocated for better services for senior citizens, including better staffing for government offices that service Social Security and Medicare, via the AARP Advocacy group.

For most of those nonprofit organizations, I have been actively letter-writing and calling elected politicians for better than twenty years.

In addition, I'm Fliss of the Nerdfighters at Kiva, helping to lend financial support, via microloans, to people in other countries trying to better the lives of their families and their commuities.

To date, I've helped fifty-three people enrich their homelands in fifty countries, including the United States of America.

I think I just may have this advocacy thing down pat.