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Advocacy Trainings

During our advocacy trainings, you will learn about the legislative process in Illinois, get an inside look at how a bill really becomes a law, and develop skills to navigate Springfield and build support for issues that matter to you.

Overview

What You’ll Learn

These FREE trainings are open to individuals and organizations interested in advancing change in Illinois through the legislative process in Springfield. While our focus is on criminal legal system reform, we try to make our training useful for any issue.

Trainings offered

Advocacy 101

  • Learn about legislative advocacy, and understand when and why it is useful
  • Familiarize yourself with how a bill becomes a law in Illinois
  • Develop skills to help you navigate a day in Springfield
  • Identify your representatives
  • Implement key research tools to understand how representatives are influenced
  • Build support for the issues that matter to you

Building Relationships with Legislators (Advanced)

  • Dive deeper into the Illinois legislative process
  • Engage in immersive interpersonal activities 
  • Understand guidelines for building relationships
  • Discover practical tips for getting involved, reaching out, and meeting with legislators
  • Unlock your influence in Springfield

More information

Who usually attends?

  • Staff from non-profit organizations who are new to policy advocacy or want a refresher
  • Members of faith groups and clergy
  • Formerly incarcerated people
  • Family members and loved ones of incarcerated people
  • Students at all different levels
  • Activists from movements or campaigns
  • Advocates who are interested in learning more about criminal legal system reform and how to get involved
  • Professionals who want to use their advocacy time more effectively

Organizations that have utilized our training:

  • BUILD
  • DePaul Students Against Incarceration
  • IL-CHEP
  • Goldin Institute
  • Metropolitan Planning Council
  • Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation
  • Willow Creek Prison Ministry

Looking for something else?

Our trainings are FREE and take place in-person throughout Illinois or virtually. If you do not see the kind of training you are looking for listed, send us an email; we also offer custom trainings.

Send us an email

What Trainees Say

It was such perfect timing for me as I started my new role at the [gov. criminal justice policy org] only a week earlier and needed a refresher course. I so much appreciate your thoughtful responses to the questions I’d been thinking about.

Young criminal justice advocate, new to role at government organization

What Trainees Say

I think I am still on a cloud after your teaching last Saturday! What a gift you were to our group. … We all learned so much, and you just have a great way of sharing your heart on a complicated topic!

Leader of prison ministry in suburban church

What Trainees Say

Thank you! I learned so much. I have a nephew in IDOC facing a life sentence, this was his first offense.

Public health outreach worker

What Trainees Say

I was going to write you a letter telling you how good your panel-hosting and presentation were at the recent event at Lewis University, but then I went to Restore Justice’s website and saw something coming up soon. I’m free if you want me to attend [again]. I loved it!

State senator

What Trainees Say

I’ve done this training before but I keep coming because I learn something new every time.

Former juvenile lifer

What Trainees Say

I’m glad I came because as a gun violence advocate, I need to understand how this works and how to talk about things in a way that does not hurt other people.

Parent of gun violence victim

Our Upcoming Training Opportunities

January 22

Legislative Advocacy 101

Virtual

Register

February 12

Building Relationships with Legislators

Virtual

Register

February 15

Legislative Advocacy Workshop: Rolling Back “Truth in Sentencing”

In Person – Chicago

Register

March 8

Building Relationships with Legislators

In Person – Chicago

Register