Advocacy is defined as generating support for a particular cause in the public sphere, and it is an important space where political purpose and civic engagement meet to foster change. Advocacy movements take myriad forms, and actions may be directed toward advocating for the self, advocating for others, or advocating for total systems change at the local, national, and cultural levels. Advocacy encompasses movements for climate justice, food security, political participation, labour rights, human rights, cultural awareness, legal justice, medical access, and so much more. As a citizen, what is your current relationship with advocacy? Have you ever felt compelled (or even forced) to advocate for yourself, for a friend or family member, or for a group?
In this course, we will focus locally to explore histories of advocacy within London and the surrounding region while gaining experience with archival research practices. Your own personal advocacy concerns will guide your explorations of a local archive of advocacy. You will be challenged to bridge the past and the present by bringing your case study research into contact with current advocacy movements. We will meet with advocacy leaders who work on the ground and with various civic and community partners. Throughout the course, we'll be developing a language for advocacy: thinking through the kind of advocacy we can do in our own lives, examining important critiques of advocacy movements, and engaging challenges for advocating critically and effectively in the digital present.
