EDUCATION & ADVOCACY
WHAT DOES OUR EDUCATION & ADVOCACY COMMITTEE DO?
The Education & Advocacy Chair heads the Education & Advocacy Committee, which plans events and creates content to educate the University community on issues related to affordable housing. The Committee also works with the local affiliate, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, and HFHI on advocacy pushes and building new partnerships.
IMPACT
Advocacy and community engagement are some of the most powerful tools that we as college students can use to advance Habitat’s mission. By advocating for equitable housing policy at all levels of government, we can take big strides toward safe, decent, and affordable housing for all.
PREVIOUS AND FUTURE EVENTS.
Southwood Podcast: This semester, the Committee is writing and producing a podcast on the Southwood Mobile Home Park in Albemarle County, just outside of Charlottesville. In coordination with HFHGC and the Southwood community, we hope this project can shed light on the national model of neighborhood-driven redevelopment that Habitat is implementing right here in Albemarle. Learn more about Habitat’s work at Southwood here.
Act! Speak! Build! Week: Held this year April 11-17, 2021, A!S!B! Week is Habitat’s national youth advocacy campaign. The Committee is planning an online speaker series in coordination with the Fundraising Committee to speak on the national themes of the “beloved community” and racial disparities in housing. Learn more about A!S!B! Week and get involved here.
Cost of Home Advocacy Campaign: Using a grant from HFHI last semester, members of the Committee and the Habitat Youth Leadership Team produced a video introducing the Cost of Home Program, a five-year advocacy campaign by HFHI to provide affordable housing to 10 million people. This fall, the six members of the Education & Advocacy Committee became Cost of Home Advocates through a course created by HFHGC. Learn more about the campaign here.
