Whether it’s on a college campus or in an interview, advocacy can be daunting. However, it is necessary on a day-to-day basis — a fact not lost on The Advocacy Project at Cornell.
The student-led organization, known as “AdPro,” has been working since 2020 to equip underrepresented individuals or anyone else struggling with advocacy on and off campus with the skills to advocate for themselves personally and professionally.
According to Chief Executive Officer Charlotte Nelson ’27, AdPro uses a student-authored curriculum to inform members how to properly advocate for those around them. This includes trainings on “Advocacy 101,” “Public Speaking 101” and “Professionalism 101” — subjects that are a pillar of AdPro today and serve to further the group’s mission.
Nelson explained that trainings allow AdPro to engage with more than just the Cornell community. The organization is able to utilize their skills to connect with other organizations and service different communities.
“We are able to form strong relationships with organizations whose missions align with ours and work to empower communities to effectively use their voices to tell their stories,” Nelson said.
Additionally, AdPro engages in the local community through its “FirstGenEd” program. This program aims to help first-generation college students and students still in the application process by assisting with finances, the personal statement or supplemental essays.
Adpro was originally founded amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by Speech and Debate Society members “looking for an outlet to create change,” according to Nelson.
“They found that even though they were limited by quarantine restrictions, a virtual space still allowed them to use their voices and begin to create the trainings and programming that are a hallmark of AdPro today,” Nelson said.
Emely Rodriguez ’27, chief operating officer and director of community outreach of AdPro, explained that the organization was a great way for her to get involved on campus and make a difference.
“I joined the Advocacy Project in my freshman year because I was looking for a place on campus where I could help people who needed it,” Rodriguez said. “AdPro allows me to utilize my own communication skills to help others find their voice — which is important on such a big campus.”
The organization also works to combine art and advocacy through its podcast, “Speak Now” which. According to its website, the podcast was founded after the attack at the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to offer individuals stability after the event. The podcast has several episodes interviewing different individuals on different topics of advocacy — from “the role architects play in designing for change” to “exploring the role of empathy in rehabilitating hostile spaces.”
Director of Curriculum Isabela Vargas ’27, who has been a member of AdPro since her freshman year, reflected on why she joined the organization and the impact she hopes to make.
“The Advocacy Project is one of the only student-led, non-profit organizations on campus,” Vargas said. “AdPro encourages us [as students] to work together in order to uplift people who haven’t been as fortunate as we are.”
The Advocacy Project recruits undergraduate students every semester. After a two-week new member orientation, all members are expected to attend weekly meetings where they formulate their own individual projects and discuss goals.
“Our executive board works to support members throughout the process of project development, as well as planning and facilitating our training,” Nelson said.
Nelson explained how advocacy is an aspect of daily life that is not taught within the four walls of a classroom. The members of The Advocacy Project recognize that and are committed to ensuring that regardless of formal education, people are able to learn how to use their voices for themselves and for others.
“The skills of advocacy, including public speaking, storytelling [and] project development are not always formally taught, and often those who are already in places of privilege have access to outside resources that supplement their education,” Nelson said. “We are deeply committed to bridging the gap between those who are passionate about advocacy and those who are looking to develop the skills that create effective change.”
