Take Action: Share Your Message on the Hill in Support of Federal Funding for Our Discipline
There are two upcoming opportunities for MPSA members to meet with their elected officials to help underscore the importance of Federal funding to our discipline. To support participation, MPSA funds two grant programs each year for MPSA members to participate in the following events in-person in Washington, D.C.
This year, both the National Humanities Alliance (NHA) Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day (March 19-21) and COSSA’s Social Science Advocacy Day (April 24-25) will be held in-person. You may apply for one or both of the grants to attend the events.
Consortium of Social Science Association (COSSA) Social Science Advocacy Day, April 24-25
MPSA’s COSSA Social Science Advocacy Day Grant
Apply for an MPSA Advocacy Day Grant to attend COSSA’s in-person 2023 Social Science Advocacy Day! MPSA is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of COSSA’s 2023 Social Science Advocacy Day, being held in-person in Washington, D.C. on April 24-25, 2023.
In addition, MPSA will be providing grants of $500 for members to participate in the Advocacy Day. Those selected as grant recipients are responsible for their own travel, lodging, meeting registration, and incidentals. In order to qualify to receive the advocacy day travel grant, attendees must be MPSA members, U.S. citizens, faculty at a college or university or a researcher or professional, and be registered to vote at the national level in the United States.
Completing the application form does not guarantee you will receive a grant. After you submit the form, the MPSA will determine grant eligibility. If you are selected for the grant, MPSA will contact you directly.
Grants will be distributed after your participation in the event is verified. If you fail to participate in the event, the grant monies will not be distributed.
The application deadline is Friday, March 31, 2023. Apply today!
Learn more about the COSSA Social Science Advocacy Day below or visit the event website.
WHAT is Social Science Advocacy Day?
Social Science Advocacy Day brings together social and behavioral scientists and science advocates from across the country to engage with policymakers in Congress about issues important to our community, such as federal funding. You will be teamed up with advocates from your home state and participate in a day of in-person meetings (Tuesday, April 25) with House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill. Through these meetings, your will share reasons why federal government support for social and behavioral science research is so critical and discuss how you and your institution can be helpful to your elected officials. Advocates will be given all the resources they need to have successful meetings, including a preparatory seminar on Monday, April 24, and all of your meetings will be scheduled for you. The only thing you need to do is come to Washington prepared to talk about why you support social and behavioral science!
This fun, informative event is a must for anyone within the social and behavioral science community who cares about sustainable funding for our fields and who believe research should help inform sound public policy.
WHY should I participate?
This year promises to be a challenging one with a split Congress (Republicans leading the House, Democrats leading the Senate) and a new majority in the House of Representatives determined to make significant budget cuts government-wide. Funding for federal agencies and programs that support social and behavioral science research is never guaranteed, and that is especially try this year. COSSA needs all social scientists to lend their voices in support of funding for social and behavioral science research programs.
WHO can participate in Advocacy Day?
Social Science Advocacy Day is a benefit of COSSA membership. Therefore, this opportunity is available to individuals affiliated with a COSSA member organization. If you are a member of or employed by one of COSSA’s member organizations, you are eligible to participate.
WHERE is everything happening?
Following three years of virtual advocacy days, we are excited to welcome advocates back to Washington! The location of the preparatory seminar on April 24 will be decided in the coming weeks. The meetings with your state groups on April 25 will take place in the House and Senate office buildings on Capitol Hill. All appointments will be scheduled for you.
National Humanities Alliance (NHA) Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day, March 19-21
MPSA’s NHA Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day Grant
The deadline to apply for an MPSA Advocacy Day Grant to attend the NHA Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day has passed. The MPSA will be providing grants of $500 for members to participate in the National Humanities Alliance Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. (March 19-21, 2023).
Those selected as grant recipients are responsible for their own travel, lodging, meeting registration, and incidentals. In order to qualify to receive the advocacy day travel grant, attendees must be MPSA members, U.S. citizens, faculty at a college or university or a researcher or professional, and be registered to vote at the national level in the United States.
Grants will be distributed after your participation in the event is verified. If you fail to participate in the event, the grant monies will not be distributed.
Individuals are responsible for registering for the event on their own; submission of the form does not mean you are registered. Enter “MEMBER2023” during registration when prompted for a coupon code to receive the member discount.
Learn more about the NHA Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day below or visit the event website.
NHA Annual Meeting – March 19-20
The NHA Annual Meeting brings together faculty, administrators, and representatives from scholarly societies, museums, archives, and other humanities organizations to build their capacity to advocate for the humanities.
We will kick off the program with a reception on Sunday evening, March 19. On Monday, March 20, we will offer a mix of sessions on engaging students in the humanities, documenting the impact of a wide variety of humanities programs, and showcasing the local value of the humanities. This is in addition to a variety of trainings for Capitol Hill advocacy.
Explore the preliminary program here.
Humanities Advocacy Day – March 21
On Humanities Advocacy Day, state-based delegations will once again travel to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and their staff.
Last year, we were able to connect advocates from 48 states and Puerto Rico with their congressional offices. Help us build on these successes as we confront a split Congress in 2023. We need to send a forceful message that the humanities should be a bipartisan priority.
Together, we will advocate for increased FY 2024 funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Department of Education’s international education programs (Title VI and Fulbright-Hays).
In the weeks leading up to Humanities Advocacy Day, we will offer a virtual orientation on Capitol Hill advocacy. New and seasoned advocates are welcome—learn more about the experience here.