Are you passionate about sustainable food and agriculture? Do you want to enhance your ability to advocate for causes that are important to you and your community? Consider participating in CFSA’s Member Advocacy Program!
In a better world, politicians and policymakers would immediately agree to do everything you want, and policies would change. Of course, it rarely happens that way. If there are laws, policies, or regulations in your community that need changing, you owe it to yourself to learn how to catalyze that change.
The Member Advocacy Program (MAP) is an interactive, virtual professional development program for those interested in upping their advocacy game to build skills in grassroots and grasstops-style advocacy campaigns, network with fellow food and farming policy buffs and local advocates across the Carolinas, and gain hands-on experience with legislative policy advocacy work.
Since launching MAP in 2021, CFSA has trained nearly 100 community advocates from across the Carolinas — will you be next? CFSA hosts two Member Advocacy Program cohorts each year: spring and fall. Spring 2026 cohort classes will meet virtually from January to May 2026, once a month from 5-6:30 PM.
Those selected for the program will learn:
- How to communicate with and influence policymakers;
- The role of grassroots vs. grasstops pressure;
- Effective ways to generate change in their community;
- How to leverage networks and relationships to become an influential force
The curriculum includes:
- Five interactive virtual classes.
- At least two opportunities for you to practice participating in the democratic process.
- A chance for a one-on-one consultation with CFSA’s Policy Team.
“After MAP, we had the opportunity to go to Raleigh to speak with the legislature, and see those who might not welcome our proposals light up when we showed them how [food systems initiatives] made an impact in their community, economically as well as socially. When you can use language that they can hear…that’s helpful in building relationships and getting results.”
– Rev. Keith Sexton, 2021 MAP Graduate and CFSA Board Member
Recent cFSA advocacy campaigns
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Page content last reviewed and updated 8/13/2026.
