What Is Advocacy? Advocacy is an action directed at changing the policies, positions, or programs of any type of institution. It involves pleading for, defending, or recommending an idea before other people. Advocates speak up, drawing a community’s attention to an important issue, and directing decision makers toward a solution. Advocacy involves the process of people participating in decision-making that affects their lives. It includes organized efforts to effect systemic or incremental change. Whatever the issue, advocacy campaigns seek to involve citizens in the policy-making process. Wherever change needs to occur, advocacy has a role to play. Advocacy leadership involves a plurality of leaders, filling a cabinet of distinct, yet complementary, leadership roles. Among those leadership roles are the following: Visionaries lift the horizons of others, setting goals that have never before been imagined or seen as realistic. Visionaries challenge the conventional view of the possible, aim high, take risks, and rethink priorities. Strategists sort out that part of the vision that is realistically attainable, and develop a road map to get there. Strategists anticipate obstacles and provide guidance to insure that advocacy campaigns remain headed in the right direction. Statespersons carry the flag. They are the “larger than life” public figures that embody authority, trust, and credibility. Experts ensure that all arguments and public policy positions are well reasoned and grounded in fact. They possess special skills and knowledge that lend credibility to and back up the positions. Outside sparkplugs are agitators. They operate outside of conventional, political (or other) establishments, free of the ties that bind “inside” players. Sparkplugs are often irritating and difficult, but they churn up our collective conscience and annoy us into action. Inside advocates are wise in the ways of the political process and positioned to influence key policy makers. Inside advocates occupy seats of power or open doors to them, intuit the approaches and arguments that resonate with policy makers, and press them in ways that are not easily dismissed. —Adapted from a statement from the Advocacy Institute.

Current Issues More than eighteen months ago, Belle Reve won a competitive Supportive Housing Grant from HUD to renovate its existing property to accommodate four more bedrooms and two more apartments for low-income HIV-positive individuals and families to occupy. Two zoning issues before the City Council have deadlocked, with the Bywater Neighborhood Association protesting the zoning changes and an inconsistency between City and State regulations. Recently, Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson has proposed a one-year ban on all new construction in residentially zoned neighborhoods in her District, to allow the opponents time to change the laws in their favor. Please write the City Council and Ms. Clarkson asking that a ban on new construction not be put into place at this time. Such a ban would delay Belle Reve’s construction plans, and because of the excessive delay, Belle Reve would lose the grant funding for the construction. All government sources acknowledge that more assisted housing for HIV-positive persons is a necessity, and yet Belle Reve’s expansion plans are being blocked by citizens who are afraid of having a low-income HIV-positive group home in their neighborhood. Just recently, Executive Director Vicki Weeks received a response letter from Congressman William Jefferson requesting that the zoning changes be passed, allowing the construction to take place. Ms. Weeks hopes this letter, plus follow-through on a few other avenues, will persuade the City Council to vote in favor of the zoning changes. Information on this subject can be obtained at the following websites: Times-Picayune August 1, 2004 New Orleans City Council August 5, 2004, New Orleans City Council July 1, 2004. As of June 2, 2005, this issue is still unresolved. The following is an update from Vicki Weeks, after the most recent City Council Meeting during which the Belle Reve discussion was on the docket. “After and hour and a half of discussion, Ms. Clarkson, once again deferred the motion. She wants to continue working with U.S. Representative William Jefferson and ask him to ask HUD for the waiver and extensions. According to City Council rules, the issue will be dead by the next City Council meeting, which is scheduled for June 16th. So, the council decided to call a "special council meeting" on Monday, June 13th, before the June 16th deadline. They are hoping Ms. Clarkson will have an answer from HUD by then. The problem I have with all of this is that even if HUD decided to allow the waiver of four people and give us extensions, we would have to re-apply with the City Planning Commission for a "text amendment" to allow a large group home in a residential neighborhood. The problem with that is that it would affect each and every district, not just District C. As we already know, there are moratoria in District D and District E against group homes and we would already lose those two votes before we even get started. The "text amendment" would have a hard time passing because of its affect on each district. So, after all is said and done, I don't see this maneuver by the council as one that will allow Belle Reve to get approval. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'll keep everyone updated.” ”Also, for those of you that would like to actually see that part of the City Council meeting, if you live in Orleans parish, you can find it on Cox Cable Channel 6 at different times of the day and night, for the next two weeks. Our issue comes up about an hour and a half after the actual meeting starts. It is Docket # 29/05.” If you would like to receive notification of new class actions and class action settlements and verdicts, visit the website of World Advocacy. If you enter your name and address, they will keep you updated on current AIDS Advocacy issues on a national level. HIVDent is another public policy site that will keep you up to date on all AIDS policies on the political agenda. Affordable Housing Alliance is an advocacy group that advocates for the rights of people in need of affordable housing. Executive Director Vicki Weeks and Development Director Kay Butler are members of this alliance. HIV/AIDS Directors’ Coalition (HADC) is an organization formed by local HIV/AIDS organizations to address issues or problems concerning services or funding. The organization is also aimed at helping New Orleans HIV/AIDS organizations work better and more closely with the city departments that distribute AIDS funding. Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Caucus (LAG PAC) (This website is currently under construction. Visit it at a later date.) features advocacy, education, public policy, and electoral involvement. They are the oldest organization working toward true civil equality for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people. ADAPT is an advocacy group for people with disabilities (AIDS is considered a disability). ADAPT fights for people with disabilities to live in the community with real supports instead of being locked away in nursing homes and other institutions. Southern AIDS Coalition’s Manifesto addresses the southern HIV/AIDS and STD crisis. The document, the result of collaborative efforts by Southern AIDS and STD Directors, their staff, local and state community based organizations, as well as key public health leaders, is endorsed by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) and the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) and calls for immediate action to improve health outcomes for citizens affected by HIV/AIDS and STDs in the South. The Southern States Manifesto, HIV/AIDS and STDs in the South: A Call to Action, was written in response to growing alarm among many providers, policy makers, and community advocates concerning the increasing numbers of new HIV/AIDS and STD cases reported from the southern region of the United States. Forum for Equality is a local advocacy group that can be reached at (504) 569-9156. Louisiana AIDS Action Network (LAAN) is another state-based advocacy group for HIV/AIDS issues. They can be reached at (504) 821-2601 ext. 228.

Who to Contact When you hear about an issue on which you have a strong opinion, do not be shy about contacting your appropriate legislators through email, fax, letter, or phone, and letting them know how you feel. Listed below are the names and addresses of the Senators and Representatives for the U.S. Congress. Additionally, a link to all Louisiana State legislators is posted. We hope you will use this information to express your views to your elected officials both firmly and regularly. If they wish to be reelected, they should listen. From time to time, as important AIDS legislative issues come up, we will be posting issues on which elected officials are voting. We will try to provide you with a summary of the issue at hand and how it affects the HIV/AIDS community. Additionally, we will provide links for more detailed descriptions, and who to contact in regard to the issue. U. S. Senators Mary Landrieu, Democrat, Term Expires: 01/03/09 4301 S. Prieur, New Orleans, LA 70125, 202/224-0090 John B. Breaux, Democrat, Term Expires: 01/03/05 Hale Boggs Federal Bldg., 501 Magazine St., Rm. 1005,New Orleans, LA 70130, 318/783-5022 U.S. Representatives U. S. Representative, 1st Congressional District David Vitter, Republican, Term Expires: 01/03/05 238 Helios Ave., Metairie, LA 70005, 504/832-0673 U. S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District William J. Jefferson, Democrat, Term Expires: 01/03/05 1922 Marengo St., New Orleans, LA 70115, 504/895-1339 U. S. Representative, 3rd Congressional District W. J. " Billy" Tauzin, Republican, Term Expires: 01/03/05 813 Hwy. 20,Thibodaux, LA 70301, 985/633-7675 "Jim" McCrery, Republican, Term Expires: 01/03/05 10815 Longfellow Trace, Shreveport, LA 71106, 318/797-8356 Rodney Alexander, Democrat, Term Expires: 01/03/05 P.O. Box 368,Quitman, LA 71268, 318/259-4587 Richard H. Baker, Republican, Term Expires: 01/03/05 9132 Highland Garden Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70811, 225/357-9021 "Chris" John, Democrat, Term Expires: 01/03/05 P.O. Box 971,Crowley, LA 70527, 337/783-4417 For other local elected officials listed by district with all contact information, please see the Louisiana Secretary of State Elected Officials Database. Advocacy Groups AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families AIDS Action National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Policy

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