Increasing Civic Engagement through Advocacy Training: Evaluation of a Community-Based Organizing Initiative

Background:
Civic engagement is a critical pathway for advancing equity in under-resourced communities, yet structural barriers often limit residents’ participation in decision-making processes. Community-based advocacy and organizing trainings have emerged as promising strategies to further civic engagement by building resident leadership, strengthening social networks, and promoting policy influence. However, empirical evidence on their effectiveness in enhancing both behavioral engagement and psychological empowerment remains limited. In alignment with the 2027 conference theme, this presentation will illustrate how civic engagement is critical in building a more just, inclusive, and vibrant democracy.

Methods:
This study evaluates a community-based advocacy and organizing training program designed to increase civic engagement and leadership capacity among residents from overburdened communities. The program consisted of a seven-session curriculum covering community organizing, policy advocacy, coalition building, and action planning. A mixed-methods design was employed with approximately 35–40 participants across three cohorts. Quantitative data were collected using pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing civic engagement, psychological empowerment (e.g., sociopolitical control, leadership efficacy), social capital, and community capacity. Paired-sample t-tests examined changes over time. Qualitative data from focus groups were analyzed using thematic analysis to capture participant experiences and perceived impacts.

Results:
Preliminary findings indicate significant increases in civic engagement behaviors, including participation in community activities and advocacy efforts. Participants reported improved policy advocacy skills, greater confidence in engaging decision-makers, and increased leadership efficacy. Qualitative findings highlight enhanced cross-community connections, expanded social networks, and strengthened collective action capacity. Participants described increased readiness to organize and advocate for policy change within their communities.

Implications:
Findings suggest that structured advocacy training programs can effectively build civic engagement, empowerment, and community capacity among residents in under-resourced settings. This study contributes to the literature on community organizing and practice-based interventions by demonstrating the potential of resident-led approaches to advance equity-focused policy change. Research on ways to further civic engagement also brings connections and strengthens bonds between residents within and across communities that strengthen their ability to address common equity issues and help their communities flourish. Implications include scaling community-based training models and integrating advocacy capacity-building into social work practice and policy initiatives.