Join the prophetic tradition of speaking truth to power so students and teachers can get the resources they need.
PROGRAM GOAL:
Build a statewide network of trained advocates who regularly engage elected officials in support of public schools.
Mission Amplify is an advocacy training initiative that gives congregations and community groups step-by-step guidance for engaging state and local elected officials.
Mission Amplify:
- Shows our leaders that people of faith firmly support public education.
- Moves people to reach beyond charitable giving to make the systemic changes that will benefit and sustain all children.
- Provides an accessible first step into advocacy and sets the stage for continuing support of children’s issues at the ballot box and beyond.
Amplify support for public education in YOUR state.
Mission Amplify was developed by Pastors for North Carolina Children to advocate for our state’s public school children, and we are excited to be expanding this program to other states.
For Georgia, contact the Mission Amplify facilitators from Fund Georgia’s Future and Together for Hope – Black Belt
Mission Amplify DASHBOARD for North Carolina
Here’s a look at our growing network of public school advocates in North Carolina who are carrying out Mission Amplify.
For Participants
STATE LEGISLATOR ADDRESSES
For Community Coordinators
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
We provide the information, tools, and support that will help your group:
1. Learn about public school needs.
Topics are presented as a season of six episodes, along with devotionals for context and inspiration.
2. Communicate with elected officials.
Instructions are provided for writing to and meeting with state senators and representatives.
3. Expand advocacy efforts.
Additional actions are encouraged, including contacting other officials and voting for candidates who support public education.
SEASON 2
The phrase “And How Are the Children?” is derived from the language tradition of the East African Masai people. It is used as a greeting, and is regarded as a general inquiry into the status of family and community.
It is believed that the focus on child welfare in this common expression reflects the high value the Masai culture places on children. The phrase also serves as a reminder that all community members should be mindful of caring for their youth.
And How Are North Carolina's CHILDREN?
Unfortunately, public schools are not meeting their needs and children in many communities are being left behind.
Mission Amplify Season 2 — focus on student needs
The system-wide barriers to fair and efficient education delivery have the largest impact on students who need the most support.
Each episode will feature children who have a higher risk for academic challenges.
- Episode 1: Children who experience racial discrimination, including Black, Hispanic, Latinx, and Indigenous children
- Episode 2: Children from lower-income families
- Episode 3: Children with disabilities
- Episode 4: Children who live in rural areas
- Episode 5: Children who are multilingual learners
- Episode 6: Children who lack access to early education (birth-to-age 5) programs
Taking our love for our children straight to public education decsion-makers so all students can get their fair share.
GET STARTED:
1. Gather your group.
Mission Amplify can be carried out by:
- Entire congregations or groups within a congregation (e.g., a committee focused on children’s charity or social justice).
- Secular community groups and advocacy organizations.
- Informal social groups wishing to support public education.
2. Identify a coordinator.
Each group needs a “Community Coordinator” who will be trained to guide the project. Duties include:
- Recruiting participants.
- Scheduling group sessions and disseminating program materials.
- Reporting activities back to Mission Amplify.
Volunteering to be your group’s Community Coordinator for Mission Amplify
To facilitate Mission Amplify activities, PNCC asks for a volunteer (“Community Coordinator”) from each group to serve as a liaison to help carry out the program, coordinate group meetings, and provide updates.
The primary group activities include:
- Letter writing campaigns directed at elected officials.
- Social media campaigns.
- Possible in-person or virtual meetings with elected officials.
- “Get out the vote” initiatives to support candidates who champion public education.
The Mission Amplify Community Coordinator will:
- Attend an initial 1-hour virtual training session and future training sessions when new episode information is launched (typically once a year).
PNCC is also available to lead workshops, speaking engagements, retreats, worship preaching, etc., so that we may expand a group’s understanding of public education, justice, and advocacy to enhance their involvement in Mission Amplify.
3. Inform and engage.
For each episode, groups meet in person or online to read and discuss the provided topic and then write messages to elected officials, calling for a solution.
The Mission Amplify curriculum can be:
- Part of an existing class or Bible study group, or be held during or after worship.
- A stand-alone program that uses the devotional to promote further discussion of Scripture related to the episode.
- Used by secular groups by simply excluding the devotional.
Seasons and episodes
Mission Amplify is presented as a season of six episodes that cover various topics in public education. PNCC creates and distributes materials for each Mission Amplify season. A season is loosely coordinated with the liturgical season (Advent through Reign of Christ Sunday), but groups may set their own pace for completing the program.
Amplify “the ask”
Each Mission Amplify episode instructs participants to ASK elected officials to enact policy measures that will help public education.
Mission Amplify expands the reach of our collective voice when appealing to lawmakers:
- Elected officials are inundated with email, so handwritten letters garner more attention.
- Personal stories help legitimize and put a face to community concerns.
- Sending a bunch of letters about the same topic makes it more likely to get noticed.
In addition to writing letters and postcards, participants may also choose to arrange an in-person or virtual meeting with their representative to talk about school issues in more detail.
Benefits for Mission Amplify participants:
- Expands knowledge of representational government and policy making.
- Establishes relationships between constituents and elected officials.
- Strengthens group fellowship by working toward a common goal.
- Gives a tangible sense of progress on issues that directly impact children in the local community.
QUESTIONS about Mission Amplify?
Send a message to Pastors for North Carolina Children