Making Your Voice Heard - CT-N Video Series

This video series was developed by the Connecticut Network. There are a total of nine short videos (between two and six minutes) that offer guidance on making your voice heard and how to advocate on an issue. All original videos and additional resources from CT-N can be found on the following websites: Making Your Voice Heard; and How to Advocate.

The Legislative Process

This short video provides an overview of the legislative process. The video discusses why it is important for community members to speak up and participate in the process and provides information about Connecticut's committee structure.

Preparing to Testify

This short video by CT-N explains how to get your message across to legislators at a public hearing by preparing to deliver testimony. The video tells how to access information about bills online and through the legislative bulletin.

Signing Up for a Public Hearing

This short video discusses the process to sign up to deliver verbal testimony at a public hearing. The video explains how to park at the Legislative Office Building, where to find the room in which the public hearing will be held, and the most common sign up procedures.

How to Testify

This short video explains how to testify at a public hearing. The video includes information about the order of testimony at a public hearing, the most important information to include in your testimony, how to ensure that your testimony is the proper length, and some suggestions for planning and organizing your testimony.

Tips for Testifying

This short video offers tips and suggestions for how to deliver testimony to legislators in public hearings. The video explains how to craft an effective story, how to submit written testimony, and how to anticipate and respond to questions from legislators. The video also includes tips for how to best utilize your written and verbal testimony and identifies the types of stories and information that legislators are listening for.

Defining Advocacy

This short video introduces the advocacy series by explaining what advocacy means, why advocacy is an essential part of the democratic process, and who is an advocate.

Your Right to Advocate

This video explains the public's right advocate on behalf of issues and why it is important for citizens to exercise that right. The video explains what a lobbyist does and who is required to register as a lobbyist. It also explains how to contact your local and state officials.

Advocacy Strategies

This video offers tips for how to be an effective advocate. It provides examples of citizens who are engaged in advocacy activities and explains the four key components of advocacy: being positive, being prepared, being passionate, and being persistent.

Advocacy and the Media

This video explains how to utilize the media, including print media, television news, and social media to share information about your cause. It provides examples of citizens who have used the media effectively to start a dialogue with citizens, politicians, and other major stakeholders. It also discusses how to submit an op-ed to the local newspaper.
Additional Video Resources
Here are some online resources from other advocacy organizations.
The Amnesty ABCs: Learning to Lobby
So you want to make your voice heard, but you do not want to get pulled through the office machinery? This video will show you how to turn an idea into action by building relationships with elected officials without ever having to go to Washington.  Via Amnesty International.