Heidi Harmon has conceptualized her experience and approach to advocacy in the TED Talk “How to Turn Advocacy into Action.” The speaker began with actualizing advocacy as a process. Namely, the argument highlighted that advocating for a cause implies turning knowledge into action (TEDx Talks, 2018). Harmon highlighted that knowledge is only valid when successfully implemented into a physical process. For example, being aware of a social issue will not fix it, while addressing it through action can. Another concept the speaker applied to actualize advocacy is inspiration. Thus, a person who can either inspire others to look into an issue or join the cause is an advocate for said topic. The example provided by the speaker is her political involvement which Bernie Sanders inspired. As a result, one person has inspired others to either show their involvement in an issue or become advocates who can continue and maximize the inspiration.
Heidi Harmon has mentioned her involvement in advocacy on a variety of levels. On the one hand, Harmon highlights joining certain organizations. The action can be considered advocacy as a person is involved in fighting for a cause in collaboration with like-minded people and under the mentorship or authority of a figure. Members of such initiatives may participate in in-person marches and protests or have a social media presence correlating with the cause (Wilkins & Kim, 2021). Such advocacy does not imply being an independent voice, yet it implies the presence of a system in which an idea is supported by a multitude of people within an organization.
Another advocacy level highlighted by Harmon is the establishment of a personal organization based on a particular objective, such as fighting climate change. As a result, this type of advocacy allows for a new initiative to be established and for a group to be engaged based on the goal of the organization as a whole. An additional level of advocacy implies the acquisition of certain positions within organizational boards. For example, school boards may become advocacy platforms for parents. As a result, the individual is in a position of authority and can impact others through advocacy in relation to a topic that is relevant. Mentoring people is also a form of advocacy that implies inspiring and sharing knowledge. People can also show up to marches despite perhaps not being active members of organizations dealing with social causes. Last but not least, the speaker mentioned engaging in politics as action requires authority which can be acquired through elections. By becoming a politician, Harmon managed to turn advocacy into action, which is the main purpose advocates have in the first place.
The red flags mentioned by Harmon in regard to advocacy deter individuals from joining the cause. Namely, the speaker highlighted extremism in certain organizations, such as eco-anarchists (TEDx Talks, 2018). Moreover, advocacy that is not based on facts may generate a sense of confusion and a lack of desire to join the premises (Kotcher et al., 2021). On the other hand, the skills that Harmon utilized to fulfill her advocacy agenda have helped her reach her objectives and make a real change. Namely, courage, engagement, and persistence, and will have facilitated success as the speaker managed to turn her advocacy into action when becoming the city mayor. Said skills inspire others and maximize the desire to support and show solidarity.
References
Kotcher, J., Feldman, L., Luong, K. T., Wyatt, J., & Maibach, E. (2021). Advocacy messages about climate and health are more effective when they include information about risks, solutions, and a normative appeal: Evidence from a conjoint experiment. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 3, 100030. Web.
Wilkins, K. G., & Kim, M. D. (2021). Advocacy communication for social justice. Handbook of Communication and Development, 172–189. Web.
TEDx Talks. (2018). How to turn advocacy into action | Heidi Harmon | TEDxSanLuisObispo [Video]. Web.