"Walk a Shift in our Shoes" is a powerful concept that brings the reality of community-based social services and the dedication of these workers to the forefront.

 

 

 

November 6th, 2011 Campaign

Goals

“Walk a Shift in our Shoes” is a powerful concept that brings the reality of community-based social services and the dedication of these workers to the forefront. A campaign of this type can:

1. bring a new commitment to politicians who participate;
2. with media outreach, bring new awareness of the value of these services to the public;
3. increase pride and confidence of our members in this sector; and
4. prime the discussion to spare social services more cuts.

“Walk a Shift in our Shoes” is a non-partisan call to politicians to take the time to learn where public dollars to community-based social services actually go. When thPlanning an event for your workplace

The Guest

Choose a political representative for the riding that your workplace serves. Chances are that politicians will not have the time to visit for an entire shift. But a well planned tour can give your guest a sense of a worker’s day with clients.

1. Your guest could be a city counsellor or the mayor, your provincial MPP or MLA, or your federal MP. Perhaps the provincial minister of community and social services is in your community, in which case they would be an ideal guest.
2. Invite this representative to be your guest for a short visit to your workplace for a tour of the services you provide and a visit with workers and clients.
3. If your community has proclaimed November 6th as CSS Workers Appreciation Day then use that to encourage our representative to visit (see the story on communities that have proclaimed the day).
4. Set the date for the visit as close to November 6th as possible.
5. If your first choice for a guest is not available then choose again.

The Media

1. Contact local media to cover the visit then move to provincial or federal media. Print, radio and television are all candidates to invite. Explain that a politician (name them) is visiting to understand better what your community-based social service does for their constituents. You would like to invite them as well to ask questions and cover the visit. Get the name of the reporter coming to the event. Consider the physical space you have and limit your invitees to an appropriate number.
2. Prepare your own media release that summarizes the visit. A quote encapsulating your message from a worker and a quote from the politician are excellent additions to a short one page media release (see template). This media release can be sent to reporters that were unable to attend.
3. A local college or university student enrolled in film may be available to document the visit and this footage can be uploaded to this website or YouTube.

The Visit

Similar campaigns have been run with dramatic results: live a month at minimum wage, spend a day in a wheelchair, survive a week on social assistance. All these campaign ideas have helped social justice groups show policy-makers first hand the struggles of those living very different lives. The challenges real people face become their experiences and it can drive policy makers and legislators to make real and lasting change.

When we provide first hand experience of the work and the people it benefits, we widen the scope of understanding for the value of community-based social services.
 

With this in mind consider:

• Set a start and end time for the visit.
• Who should your guest meet?
• What success stories from your community-based social service can you highlight?
• Who will act as host? Or perhaps a team of workers would be best suited to share hosting.
• What is your service struggling with? Too many clients and not enough staff? Infrastructure lacking? Try to highlight these as opportunities for the politician to take part in making things better.
• Plan your “tour” and script your presentation if necessary.

Tell us about your event below!