Approximately 40 members of the Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition gathered at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Doylestown for a day-long Messaging and Advocacy Training Workshop intended to provide insights into crafting clear messages and an understanding of the opportunities and limitations relative to advocacy and lobbying.
	New York City-based communications trainer Sara Stuart, seated at center front, shared strategies for crafting effective messages with participants at the Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition’s day-long Messaging and Advocacy Training Workshop. Among the event organizers were (left to right) Nancy Morrill, JoAnn Perotti and Jeanne Scanlon, all of the Bucks County Women’s Fund.

The Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition Sharpens Its Tools at Training Workshop

September 18, 2009

DOYLESTOWN — The Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition recently held a day-long Messaging and Advocacy Training Workshop intended to provide insights into crafting clear messages and an understanding of the opportunities and limitations relative to advocacy and lobbying.

The Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition, initiated one year ago by the Bucks County Women's Fund, has grown to include 31 organizations and several individuals working to empower, educate and advocate to build awareness, equity, gender equality and economic self-sufficiency for all.

Approximately 40 participants heard from Philadelphia lawyer Sharon Wilson, an expert on how non-profit organizations can engage effectively in advocacy without jeopardizing their 501c3 status. A second speaker, Sara Stuart, a New York City based communications trainer, shared strategies for developing messages that will attract centers of influence and decision makers to the coalition's priority work.

The workshop was hosted by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22, and sponsored by  Success by Six (United Way of Bucks County), the Bucks County Commissioners' Advisory Council for Women, the Bucks County Women's Fund, AAUW-Doylestown, the League of Women Voters of Bucks County, Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA), Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County, and Soroptimist International of Bucks County.

On Friday, Oct. 2, the coalition will hold a "Conversation With Legislators" from 8-10 a.m at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, 705 N. Shady Retreat Rd., Doylestown. At this public forum, open to all, officials from the federal, state, and county levels will be in attendance to hear and comment upon the outcomes of four reports detailing results of the coalition's first year of work focusing on improving the lives of women, girls, and families in Bucks County.