The author of ‘Allies and Advocates’ explains the power of advocacy and how it helps make inclusion efforts successful.
Advocacy is the process where someone with privilege and power is willing to take steps to protect, publicly support, and dismantle systems against a marginalized group of people. In order to be an advocate, you have to be willing to do additional work beyond getting familiar with the nuances of marginalized groups and developing empathy for them. It is about taking action to change how others experience the world. Similar to allyship, advocacy is not a title—it is a verb. There are actions that you have to take to be considered an advocate.