We Are Your Voice
The LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois Is Your Advocate For LGBTQ+ Businesses In Illinois And Northwest Indiana.
Advocacy means taking action to create change. Advocates organize themselves to take steps to tackle an issue. They help to give people ways to speak out about things that negatively affect them. Advocacy has been described as “speaking truth to power.” Advocacy involves promoting the interests or cause of someone or a group of people.
An advocate is a person who argues for, recommends, or supports a cause or policy — it is about helping people find their voice. There are three types of advocacy: self-advocacy, individual advocacy, and systems advocacy. The LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois is involved in all areas of advocacy for LGBTQ+ businesses both small and large.
How Does Our Advocacy Work?
Our advocacy includes many different types of activities. It can mean researching new solutions, creating coalitions of like-minded people, public campaigning to raise awareness, and much more. Our Advocacy aims to create change.
How Do We Make Advocacy Happen?
Advocacy can be done by a wide range of techniques including campaigning, social media campaigns, demonstrations, launching petitions, and mobilizing others to take action. Advocates work to find ways to organize evidence, attention, and action to create positive change. Research, facts, and data are essential to uncover the cause of a problem or inequity, working to develop possible solutions – is important to be able to persuade people to do what is right, fair, and equitable. It’s said that good advocacy speaks to “hearts, minds, economic impact and hands” by making people care about the issue, understand the facts and economic impact, and know what they can do to help.