The New Millennium Initiative (NMI), an initiative of the Center for Teaching Quality, engages engages early-career teachers to advocate for effective teaching policies at the local, state and national levels. The overarching goal of the NMI is to improve student learning dramatically as a result of our advocacy and leadership.

Advocacy is an important tool for effecting change. It is more than petitioning representatives, writing letters to the editor or publishing smart policy papers. Strong and sustainable advocacy consists of an enduring cycle:

1. Understand the issue
2. Analyze the landscape
3. Create a plan
4. Implement the plan
5. Highlight results

Changing policy for the better can often be a gradual process. As a result, once one effort ends, the advocacy cycle begins again as advocates expand and strengthen partnerships, refine their message, grow in influence, sharpen their skills and sustain the efforts that steer decision makers and convert good intentions into lasting change.

This section provides an overview of the stages of the advocacy cycle.

Understand the Issue
Dig deeper into issues and understand best practices. Learn more >

Analyze the Landscape
Take a closer look at key structures, stakeholders and potential allies. Learn more >

Create a Plan
Set goals, identify targets and structure a cohesive advocacy plan. Learn more >

Implement the Plan
Implement specific tactics from your advocacy plan. Learn more >

Highlight Results
Use knowledge gained through advocacy to determine next steps. Learn more >

Download the complete New Millennium Advocacy Cycle tool.