Getting Started in Local Advocacy - Live Webinar

Webinar Description

The history community needs advocacy but often struggles with where to begin. What does advocacy look like for the country’s thousands of small and mid-sized organizations, so often strapped for time, money, staff, and other resources? The answer lies in starting local. Effective advocacy means continual, everyday actions that demonstrate your value and build relationships within your immediate community—in other words, speaking up and proving to your neighbors that you matter. Building on AASLH’s new manual, Speak Up for History: Getting Started in Local Advocacy, this webinar will offer attendees a basic understanding of what local advocacy is and why it matters, ways to translate big ideas into practical and flexible techniques, and concrete examples and tools for getting started.

This webinar is presented as part of AASLH’s new state and local advocacy initiative, Speak Up for History, which offers a hub for concrete tools, guidance, and programming to help practitioners more effectively demonstrate the value of history work to their communities. 

This webinar is co-sponsored by the Association of Midwest Museums and the Southeastern Museums Conference.

Details

DATE: October 20, 2026

TIME: 3:00 - 4:15 pm EASTERN (Remember to adjust for your time zone)

COST: $25 members/$45 nonmembers

ACCESS: You will be provided with instructions on how to access the live event upon registration.

Learning Outcomes

Those who attend this webinar will . . .

• Get to know AASLH’s new Speak Up for History initiative and its goals.
• Learn the particular value of local advocacy for history organizations and how it can be integrated into everyday work.
• Understand that fundamentals of practicing effective advocacy.
• Become familiar with local advocacy tools and resources and learn how to apply them to their own organizations.

Recording and Captioning

We will record this event. Captioning is provided for the live event.

Connecting the Content

This webinar will especially help organizations enrolled in STEPS address multiple standards under the Audience and Community Engagement and Mission, Vision, and Governance sections of the STEPS program.

The Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS) from AASLH is a self-study, self-paced assessment tool designed specifically for small- to mid-sized history organizations, including volunteer-run institutions. Through a workbook, online resources, and an online community, organizations enrolled in STEPS review their policies and practices and benchmark themselves against national standards.

Having issues registering? Please contact learn@aaslh.org

Please note AASLH's Notetaking Tools Policy: During webinars and online courses, the use of any AI notetaking tools such as meeting assistants is prohibited to ensure the confidentiality and security of the discussion. Our sessions are automatically recorded and transcribed for participants. AI tools will be removed from events by AASLH staff if they appear. Please contact us at learn@aaslh.org if you need to use AI tools for accessibility reasons.

How to Register for this Event

Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.

Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.

If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.