Fees
$10, includes webinar training, congressional leader’s plenary, meetings with representatives
About The Event
Since 2015, American Muslims for Palestine has organized an annual Palestine Advocacy Day and Training weekend to educate students, community activists, and organizers —young and old—on civic engagement and policy work exclusively on the issue of Palestine.
Invited guest lecturers and instructors provide an in-depth course on legislative advocacy and the political process in the U.S. with workshops on:
- The Structures of Government
- Community & Movement History – Building Power
- Understanding Civic Engagement
- How to Speak to Elected Officials and Their Offices
- Political Advocacy & Organizing
- Training on Making Asks on Specific Policy Issues
Learn About VPAD...
...And Watch Our Highlights Video
What’s Included
Training manual and resources
Interactive online training
Plenary with Members of Congress
Talk with congressional staff
Advocacy Day assistant app
Group discussions and projects
Program Structure
Time and Date
Monday, September 14th
1:30 - 3:00 PM EST
Training Webinars
Opening Session
Featuring Osama Abuirshaid, Josh Ruebner, Felicia Eaves
Panel 1: What Are Our 'Asks'?
Featuring Brad Parker, DCI-Palestine; Beth Miller, JVP Action; Laila Mokhiber, UNRWA-USA
Panel 2: How to conduct a congressional meeting
Featuring Raed Jarrar
Tuesday, September 15th
1:30 - 3:00 PM EST
Plenary Session: Justice Everywhere
Keynote Address
Featuring Rep. Betty McCollum, introduced by Osama Abuirshaid
Panel 1: Defund Israeli Human Rights Abuses, Re-Fund Palestinian Needs
Featuring Hanan Ashrawi, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Judy Chu, Ahmed Shehab-Eldin
Panel 2: Racial Justice Here and Abroad: Opposing Segregation & Annexation
Featuring Rep. Donald Payne, Jr., Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rasha Mubarak
Wednesday, September 16th - Friday, September 18th
7:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST
Meetings with Members of Congress/Congressional Offices
Since 2015
860
Participants
+ 345
Meetings on Capitol Hill
32
States Represented
Testimonials
What they’ve said about Palestine Advocacy Day
Muath Salameh
St. Louis, MO
Not just to overcome the fear of speaking up against power, PAD has inspired me and taught me how to organize my thoughts into an effective message. I will take back the inspiration that we will not shy away from who we are and provide younger voices with the tools to do just that.
Wassim Kanaan
Paterson, NJ
The community working for justice in Palestine is strong and ready to work. PAD has prepared me to go home and work in-district, and make sure that our voices are counted when it comes to the conversation in Palestine
Neveen Ayesh
St. Louis, MO
I mean honestly I learned that the tide really is turning, were done with being spoken for and not to & that it scares the opposition that we’re 3rd, going into 4th generation and still haven’t backed down and never will.
Abdimalek Ahmad
Minneapolis, MN
Before PAD, I was pretty ignorant about Palestine, but taking that trip to DC changed my life absolutely in so many ways. I enjoyed suiting up and presenting the case for Palestine to my representatives, but what made PAD special for me was how it fostered a learning environment that made me comfortable with claiming Palestine as my issue, even if I’m not Palestinian. Now, Palestinians will always be dear to my heart.
Ahmad Hamdan
Chicago, IL
PAD was an opportunity to see the grass-roots organizing we use at rallies and protests mobilize to Capitol Hill and demand from our leadership the representation and justice they so frequently preach. PAD offered intensive training on how to advocate for the cause of Palestine on every front: local, regional, and national.
Umar Hemadeh
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Advocacy Day in DC was the perfect introduction for youth like myself to better understand how our democratic system works, how policies are written and pushed, and how to build relationships with our representatives so we can hold them accountable to the values that are important to us and the promises they made.
