JSA Fight Apathy Guide

THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO FIGHT APATHY

0

TABLE OF CONTENTS

6 STEPS TO FIGHT APATHY

2

SUPPLIES CHECKLIST

3

LETTER TO ADMINISTRATION

4

PRESS 101

5

SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE

6

SAMPLE PRESS REQUEST

7

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS AND TRICKS

8

FAQS

9

SAMPLE FLYERS

10-2

“I BELEIEVE IN” POSTER

13

SAMPLE STICKERS

14

1

6 STEPS TO FIGHT APATHY STEP 1 GET ADMINISTRATION’S APPROVAL

STEP 2 CHOOSE A DAY AND PLACE

Pick a date and a location to host your event. Make sure lots of traffic is directed towards that location on that selected day!

Make sure a teacher or administrator is on board to help you sort out logistics and inform you on the procedures for hosting daytime events on campus.

STEP 4 PUBLICIZE

STEP 3 REGISTER ONLINE

Use social media as a tool to get the word out about your event and share updates. This may include creating a Facebook event, an Instagram page, or documenting it on Snapchat.

Also, hang posters and flyers around the school!

Register you campaign with JSA using the link provided by your Program Director so we can send you your stickers (free) and other organizational and promotional materials such as flyers and check lists!

STEP 5 GET VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPLIES

Gather your most enthusiastic and impassioned fellow JSAers to help manage the event. Make sure you have a table, stickers, markers, and a poster!

STEP 6 RUN AN AWESOME EVENT AND HAVE FUN! Watch minds be enlightened and passions be sparked as your school engages in meaningful discussion about social and political issues!

2

SUPPLIES CHECKLIST ! ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL ! “I BELIVE IN…” STICKERS ! MARKERS ! A POSTER ! A TABLE ! VOLUNTEERS ! INFO ON YOUR JSA CHAPTER ! SIGN-UP SHEET ! MUSIC (OPTIONAL)

3

LETTER TO ADMINISTRATION You can find an official letter to your administration on the Google Drive folder JSA Fight Apathy Resources To Whom It May Concern: A student from your school has expressed interest in hosting a Junior State of America campaign called Fight Apathy. This means that one of your students is taking the initiative to engage their peers in a political conversation and fight apathetic attitudes towards the issues of today. Fight Apathy is a nationwide activism initiative founded in 2011 by students within the Junior State of America, a non-profit, student-run organization focused on civic leadership and education. Since it’s inception, Fight Apathy has engaged over 160,000 students across 32 states, has promoted the idea that youth can be primary movers in a world where politics is dominated by adults, and has empowered young people to live fulfilled, civically aware lives.

Hosting a Fight Apathy campaign is easy for you and your administration. The organizer of your school’s campaign (a student) will request Fight Apathy “I believe in...” stickers from the Junior State of America. JSA will send the amount requested free of charge. Then, on the day of your school’s campaign, students will pass out the stickers during the designated time, typically during the lunch period. The distribution method of the stickers changes from school to school, and can be changed to fit your administration’s needs. Your student organizer may request a space to set up a table or poster to advertise the event. JSA helps by providing materials to fully equip the students to carry out the event so you don’t have to do anything accept approve it.

We understand that opening a discussion of controversial topics may seem overly ambitious and complicated, but it has been our experience that providing an environment where these important discussions can take place has immeasurable educational value. If you’re interested in taking measures to ensure topics addressed are appropriate, we recommend having a teacher or administrator oversee the event. Fight Apathy is a platform for students to voice their opinions, and is a way for them to learn more about various issues. If you allow this event to take place on your campus, you are likely to see meaningful discussion and polite dissent amongst students, and slowly apathetic attitudes will likely disappear from your student body.

I strongly encourage you to grant this opportunity to your students. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at gavalos@jsa.org.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this request.

Best regards, Gabriel Avalos National Director of Fight Apathy

4

PRESS 101 POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Post one of the Fight Apathy flyers on Instagram, create an event on Facebook, document your event on Snapchat, and tweet updates! Make a countdown with chapter members holding up an "I believe in..." sign and remember to always use the hashtag #fightapathy.

See the Fight Apathy Social Media Tips and Tricks below.

SEND A PRESS REQUEST BEFOREHAND Media Coverage is a crucial tool for sharing the spirit of Fight Apathy with your community. Edit the press request found in this packet accordingly, and send it out to local news outlets and your school newspaper.

USE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

Reach out to local businesses, politicians, and activism groups - anyone who you believe makes a difference in your community. Invite them to guest speak or merely see youth activism in action. Emails are good, but calls and meetings in person are more effective.

You'd be surprised about how enthusiastic people are to be included in the Fight Apathy campaign.

TAKE PICTURES! Capture the special moments during your Fight Apathy event and share them on social media. Powerful shots include participants holding up the "I believe in..." sign, students engaging in an impassioned debate, or of a poster where everyone writes down something they believe in. It would be a great idea to assign a photographer from your chapter to cover this event.

SEND A PRESS RELEASE AFTER Edit the sample press release found in this packet to your specification, attach pictures and testimonials, and send it to local press and any influential leaders in your community.

Show them how passionate the youth are at your school.

5

SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE You can find an editable press release on the Google Drive folder JSA Fight Apathy Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: [Name], [Email] or [Phone]

[YOUR HIGH SCHOOL] TO HOST A JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA FIGHT APATHY CAMPAIGN [City, State] - The Junior State of America (JSA) chapter at [High School] is preparing to host a Fight Apathy campaign on campus on [Date, Time]. Fight Apathy is a nationwide activism initiative founded in 2011 by students within the Junior State of America, a non-profit, student-run organization focused on civic leadership and education. Since it’s inception, Fight Apathy has engaged over 160,000 students across 32 states, has promoted the idea that youth can be primary movers in a world where politics is dominated by adults, and has empowered young people to live fulfilled, civically aware lives.

This is the school’s [number] time hosting this campaign. On [Date], students will use Fight Apathy stickers with the phrase “I believe in…” as a way to prompt a conversation with their peers on issues ranging from free speech to gun rights and everything in between. [Chapter President] hopes to engage [his/her] fellow classmates in stimulating political discourse, civil debates, and passionate educational conversations about political issues such as campus politics to global affairs.

[Quote of CP or other chapter member.]

[High School] started their JSA Chapter in [year], and has engaged countless students through the promise of allowing students to voice their opinions on often-controversial topics in a safe and educational environment. Since its inception, they have attended [number] of overnight conventions and [number] of One-Day Conventions where they get the opportunity to engage with high school students from across [JSA State]. [Insert details of chapter hosted events]. For more information about this event or the JSA chapter, please contact [Name], [position], at [email].

About Junior State of America The Junior State of America is the nation’s largest student-run, student-led organization. Founded in 1934, the mission of JSA is to strengthen American democracy by educating and preparing high school students for life-long involvement and responsible leadership in a democratic society.

END-

6

SAMPLE PRESS REQUEST You can find an editable press request on the Google Drive folder JSA Fight Apathy Resources

Dear [Update], There is a group making undeniable waives in the political landscape: the youth of America. Many have said that high school students are unaware of the political issues facing this country and are ill equipped to face political institutions run by adults. However, students at [High School] make a compelling case against this notion. They are demanding to be heard by their government and to be involved in the political conversation.

On [date] at [location], students from the [school] chapter of the Junior State of America will showcase their passion for political discourse. The event is called Fight Apathy, an initiative of the Junior State of America, the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the nation to promote civic leadership and education among high schoolers, and is the current home to this nation’s future political leaders and activists. The Fight Apathy campaign is known for engaging thousands of young people across the country, preparing them for a life of civic engagement and political awareness. This event entails hundreds of students gathering to advocate for issues that mean the most to them through the act of writing what they believe in on stickers and posters, and voicing to their peers their thoughts about so many important political topics.

At this event, you are likely to catch a student in a feverous call for social justice, or a group of students having a polite debate about current events. You may also catch a student asking their first question about an issue because they’ve always had a passion for politics, but have yet to find a platform to engage with it further. These are some of the special moments found within the Junior State of America and through the Fight Apathy campaign. It would be an honor if you help us capture them.

What: [High School]’s Fight Apathy Campaign When: Where: Publicity Contact: Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to hear from you soon.

All the best,

7

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS #FIGHTAPATHY

FACEBOOK

• Take photos! We want to repost them and share your inspiring Fight Apathy stories with everyone • Collect testimonials! We want to hear what Fight Apathy means to you and how it has inspired you • Encourage others to use #FightApathy on various social networks so they can share their own stories

• Like the Fight Apathy page • Share the pictures and updates that are being posted by others participating in the campaign • Post your Fight Apathy stories, photos, and videos so we can see what you’ve accomplished

TWITTER

• Follow @FightApathyJSA on Twitter • Tweet with the hashtag #fightapathy and encourage others to do the same so we can retweet you • Ex: “Check out the Fight Apathy campaign in the cafeteria tomorrow during both lunches! It’s your chance to help make a difference! #FightApathy” • Encourage chapter members to retweet updates

INSTAGRAM

• Make sure to follow “jsafightapathy” on Instagram • Check out pictures and updates from the campaign’s account • When you post, post on other social sites as well to increase the number of people who see it • Post Instagram stories to share a few words about an issue you’re passionate about and share it with your followers • Make sure to utilize #FightApathy along with #bethepeople

SNAPCHAT

• Add @FightApathy on Snapchat to see other Fight Apathy events across the nation • Film/take pictures of inspiring moments during the campaign

8

FAQS Who can participate?

Everyone in the school can participate: students and faculty alike! Hand out stickers to everyone. This is also a great recruitment tool to get more people involved in JSA and help people discover their passion for politics and social justice.

Will students take the event seriously? How can I make sure it's appropriate?

In our experience, students take the campaign seriously and appreciate the opportunity to be in an environment where political discussions are encouraged. However, if you are still worried about civil discourse, a teacher or administration can stand in the area to monitor what is being written.

Can I host during another time of the year?

Absolutely, we are encouraging schools to participate between the official Fight Apathy season to create unity. However, if you are unable to run an event during that time, then host the campaign when you can. It is more important that you join the campaign than when you run it. Contact your Program Director for special arrangements.

When are stickers distributed?

Often times, stickers are passed out at the beginning of the day or during lunch.

However, students are encouraged to wear the stickers for the entire day.

How much does it cost to participate, and when do I get my stickers?

It’s FREE! If you register your school online, the campaign will send you the amount of stickers requested for your school either to a specific address or you can collect them at Winter Congress.

What do I need for my table?

The bare essentials are stickers and permanent markers. However, putting up signs will help draw students to the table. You could also put handouts to help students understand Fight Apathy and JSA. At some schools, students place a poster board on a table with the phrase, “I believe in…” at the top and encourage students to place a postit note with their beliefs on the poster board.

Where's the best place to set up my table?

Try to set up in a place that students are guaranteed to pass. The main entrance of your school, the cafeteria, or a central hallway might be optimal places. By having a table in a central location, you can encourage passersby to take a sticker rather than counting on them to find the table.

How many stickers should I order?

Try your best to predict how many students will get involved. It’s better to overestimate than underestimate. At a politically active school, about 75% of students may take a sticker. Otherwise, a good estimate is to order stickers for 50% of the student body.

9

10

11

12

13

14

jsa.org

15