Strengthening Voices, Building Power: CVI Organizations Host Advocacy Training Day

Chicago CRED Policy Analyst Jack Jomarron reviews goals at the beginning of the “Advocacy 101” session during Advocacy Training Day at the Discover Center in Chatham on February 24, 2025.

Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI), Communities Partnering 4 Peace and Chicago CRED came together for an Advocacy Training Day on February 24, 2025. This training equipped frontline outreach workers with the tools to approach elected officials and advocate for sustainable funding for community violence intervention (CVI).

“This is a big opportunity to make sure that CVI is a permanent part of public safety and protection infrastructure,” said Jack Jomarron, Policy Analyst at Chicago CRED. The event came just days after Governor JB Pritzker’s Budget and State of the State Address on February 19, setting the stage for discussions on funding and legislative engagement.

Participants received a budget overview from lobbyist Ron Holmes before breaking into two training sessions. Jomarron led “Advocacy 101,” covering five key goals: understanding the difference between organizing and advocacy, learning the formula for effective advocacy, adopting the right mindset, recognizing what successful advocacy looks like, and utilizing each organization’s policy teams. 

“Advocacy is simple. It’s passion plus articulation. You are centering your passion to be data-driven, to go and talk to a legislator to tell them your story that is data-driven, that is based on work that you specialize and professionalize you,” stated Ashley Miller, Community Advocacy Coordinator at Chicago CRED.

In the second workshop, titled “Communication Training: Telling Your Story for Advocacy,” Communications consultant Peter Cunningham guided participants in refining their personal narratives to effectively engage legislators. 

Participants practice refining their narratives during the “Communication Training: Telling Your Story for Advocacy” session.

“Our partners who do outreach have so much lived experience to explore from. That can often feel overwhelming. So, during the storytelling version of training, it was great to hear them refine their story and feel like they can speak to legislators,” shared A’Keisha Lee, Policy Analyst at MPI.

After completing both trainings, attendees regrouped within their respective organizations to develop state advocacy plans. Using a legislative calendar that outlined House and Senate sessions, they strategized how and when to engage with state senators, representatives, budget decision-makers, and key committees, including the House Gun Violence Prevention Public Safety Committee.

Crown Family Philanthropies Gun Violence Prevention Program Director Chris Patterson thanks participants for their work and focus.

Chris Patterson, Gun Violence Prevention Program Director at Crown Family Philanthropies, captured the heart of the training saying, “we’re going to shift the power dynamic in this training [and] show that when you use your voice, [elected officials listen].”

By the end of the day, participants left with clear action steps, stronger advocacy skills, and a shared commitment to ensuring that the work they do every day is reflected in policies that shape the future of public safety in Illinois.