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Jewish Advocacy Playbook

Actionable strategies for creating positive change on your campus created by students, for Jewish students and community members.

Dear Jewish College Student or Community Member,

You hold in your hands a playbook born from real-world experience in campus advocacy. As a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I led the Renew the Wisconsin Idea campaign, a student-driven initiative that successfully addressed campus antisemitism and promoted a more inclusive university environment. This guide distills our strategies, tactics, and hard-won lessons into a comprehensive resource designed specifically for you. It is my hope that these insights will empower you to effectively advocate for positive change on your own campus, ensuring that all students can thrive in a safe and respectful academic environment.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.

Ben Newman

Using this Playbook to Make Change

This playbook is designed to empower Jewish activists on university campuses with the tools, strategies, and knowledge needed to effectively advocate for their rights and address issues of antisemitism on campus. Drawing from successful campaigns like Renew the Wisconsin Idea, this guide provides a comprehensive framework for organizing, communicating, and driving change within your university community as well as a set of AI tools to help you on every part of your journey.

The written playbook and AI tools combine to create a comprehensive influence kit:

The Playbook

A step-by-step guide to creating and maintaining a successful influence campaign

The Tools

AI tools for executing steps in the playbook, allowing you to run a campaign regardless of experience

Key Learnings from Our Efforts

As we learned from the Renew the Wisconsin Idea campaign, organized and strategic advocacy can lead to significant achievements, even in challenging circumstances. By adopting a structured approach, you can:

  1. Effectively counter extreme demands and provide a reasoned voice in campus discussions.
  1. Maintain sustained engagement with university administration.
  1. Address immediate concerns while laying groundwork for long-term improvements in campus climate and policy.
  1. Raise awareness about antisemitism and the challenges faced by Jewish students.
  1. Influence university policy and decision-making processes.

The Renew the Wisconsin Idea campaign demonstrated that student advocates can effectively influence university policy and public discourse when armed with thorough research, strategic communication, and a commitment to upholding foundational principles of academic freedom and civil discourse.

This playbook will guide you through the process of building an effective advocacy campaign, from forming your team and crafting your message to engaging with administration and leveraging technology. By following these strategies, you'll be well-equipped to navigate complex issues while striving for a more inclusive and respectful campus environment.


Leverage AI for Campus Advocacy

Maccabee.ai lowers the barriers to effective advocacy with a suite of AI tools. Here's how to leverage these game-changing resources:

1

Onboarding

Interview with our Context Statement Generator and save the output. This helps AI learn more about you.

2

Find Your Tool in the Playbook

Find the tool that is best suited for your needs within the playbook and paste in the context statement when asked.

3

Copy and Edit the Output

When you are happy with the results, copy the output and edit it on your own before usage.

1. Onboarding: Start with the Context Statement Generator

Think of this as your AI orientation interview. This tool will ask you key questions about your advocacy goals, campus environment, and current challenges. The resulting context statement is your personalized advocacy profile – a concise summary of your unique situation.

Pro Tip: Save this context statement in a note or document. You'll use it repeatedly to quickly brief other AI tools, saving you valuable time and ensuring consistency across your campaign.

2. Using AI: Choose Your AI Tool and Begin the Conversation

Maccabee.ai offers a variety of specialized AI assistants, each designed to help with specific aspects of your advocacy journey. Whether you need help crafting policy requests, preparing for media interviews, or writing compelling reports, there's a tool tailored for your needs.

When you start a conversation with your chosen AI tool, it will ask for context. This is where your saved context statement comes in handy. Simply paste it in, and the AI will immediately understand your situation, allowing you to dive right into your specific task.

Remember: These AI tools are here to enhance your efforts, not replace your unique insights and experiences. Use them to brainstorm ideas, refine your messaging, and streamline your workflow – but always apply your own judgment and understanding of your campus's nuances.

By integrating these AI tools into your advocacy strategy, you're not just keeping up with technology – you're staying steps ahead of potential challenges. Maccabee.ai empowers you to punch above your weight, compete with better-resourced opposition, and make a lasting impact on your campus.

Ready to get started? Let's dive into the world of AI-enhanced advocacy and transform your campus for the better!

Anatomy of a Campaign

Example Timeline of Advocacy

No two advocacy campaigns are identical - the causes vary, circumstances differ, and the people involved bring unique perspectives and skills. The timeline that follows is based on the successful strategies employed during the Renew the Wisconsin Idea campaign. It's designed to serve as a flexible framework, not a rigid script.

As you review this timeline, remember its key lesson: effective advocacy often requires simultaneous action on multiple fronts. You'll likely find yourself engaging with administration, media, and legislators all while organizing your team and refining your message. The world of advocacy moves fast, and your ability to multitask and rapidly respond to developments will be crucial.

1

Precipitating Incident

  • An event occurs that sparks concern among Jewish students (e.g., antisemitic incident, controversial campus policy)
  • It reflects a wider problem that only activist pressure can solve
2

Initial Response (Days 1-3)

  • Students begin documenting incidents and gathering evidence
  • Informal discussions among affected students and allies begin
3

Organization Phase (Days 1-3)

  • Students form an advocacy group or coalition
  • Initial strategy meetings are held
  • Roles are assigned within the group
4

Preparation of Initial Report (Days 3-4)

  • Students compile evidence and testimonies
  • A comprehensive report is drafted, including incident details and policy recommendations
5

First Engagement with Administration (Day 4-6)

  • Request for meeting with key university officials is made
  • Students prepare presentation and talking points
  • Meeting is held to present concerns and recommendations
6

Media Outreach (Days 4-6)

  • Press release is prepared and distributed to campus and local media directly after the engagement with administration
  • Students conduct initial media interviews
7

Broadening the Campaign (Days 4-6)

  • Outreach to potential allies (other student groups, faculty members) begins
  • Social media campaign or petitions are launched
8

Legislative Engagement (Days 4-10)

  • Students identify and contact sympathetic legislators
  • Meetings with legislators or their staff are held
  • Legislators are encouraged to apply pressure on the university
9

Follow-up Administrative Engagement (Depends)

  • Second meeting with university officials to discuss progress and reiterate demands
  • Students adjust strategy based on university's response
10

Escalation (if necessary) (Days 20-30)

  • If demands are not met, students may organize peaceful demonstrations or other visibility events
  • Additional media outreach and public awareness campaigns are conducted
11

Continued Pressure and Negotiation (Days 30-60)

  • Regular check-ins with administration to track progress
  • Ongoing media presence and public awareness efforts
  • Continuous evidence gathering and documentation of any new incidents
  • Keeping legislators informed of efforts and progress
12

Resolution and Policy Implementation (Days 100+)

  • University announces policy changes or other resolutions
  • Students monitor implementation of agreed-upon changes
13

Long-term Follow-up (Ongoing)

  • Regular meetings with administration to ensure compliance with agreements
  • Continued documentation of campus climate
  • Preparation for potential future advocacy needs