DAVENPORT, IOWA (April 13, 2026) — OneTable QC invites non-profit leaders, development professionals, board members, and community members to attend a free, interactive workshop this April: The Value and Power of Advocacy: Practical Skills to Turn Everyday Work into Influence.
The workshop, scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 1-3:30PM, is designed to help participants recognize and strengthen the advocacy work they are already doing through fundraising conversations, storytelling, community partnerships, and board engagement and apply it more intentionally to advance their missions.
“Advocacy doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. It’s already happening in everyday work,” said Jenny Colvin, Vice President of River Bend Food Bank, Past President of AFP Quad Cities and OneTable QC Co-Founder. “We want people to leave this workshop realizing they’re not starting from scratch but rather building on what they’re already doing.”
Participants will walk away with a practical toolkit they can apply immediately. Key takeaways include:
- Turning impact stories and data into clear advocacy messages;
- Communicating confidently with policymakers and community leaders;
- Activating board members and donors as advocates;
- Identifying natural opportunities for advocacy within daily work; and
- Using simple frameworks to support decision-making that affects their mission.
The workshop will also feature local leaders who are already participating in advocacy, including:
- Amy Jones, Royal Neighbors of America and Lift Women’s Foundation
- Angie Kendall, Hand in Hand
- Henry Marquard, Quad Cities Interfaith
- Tyler Mitchell, The Project of the Quad Cities
- Joscelyn Rowe, Deputy District Director, US Representative Eric Sorensen (IL-17)
- Ryan Sempf, United Way of the Quad Cities
This workshop is free to attend and builds on February’s Advocacy 101 session, focusing on practical, real-world application; however, no prior attendance at OneTable QC events or the previous Advocacy workshop is required.
As community conversations continue around nonprofit budget shifts, this session offers practical next steps and aims to equip participants with tools to turn shared ideas into meaningful action.
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/the-value-and-power-of-advocacy-practical-skills-to-turn-everyday-work-into-influence
About OneTable QC
OneTable QC is a regional, nonpartisan campaign created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Quad Cities Chapter and Wastyn and Associates. Its mission is to build a shared, data-backed narrative that cements non-profits as critical to the Quad Cities’ economy and social fabric. Through Awareness, Alliance, and Action, the campaign equips non-profits and residents alike to advocate for policies and resources that protect essential services and strengthen families across Iowa and Illinois. Learn more at https://www.afpquadcities.com/onetable.About Wastyn and Associates
Wastyn and Associates helps nonprofit organizations turn their ideas into reality by providing high quality, personalized consulting and services in grant research and writing, strategic planning, fundraising, board development and leadership education. To learn more, visit wastynassoc.com.
About Association of Fundraising Professionals Quad Cities
At AFP Quad Cities, you’ll find a supportive network of professionals who understand the challenges and celebrate the wins that come with working in development. Whether you’re a one-person shop, part of a large team, or somewhere in between, our chapter offers a space to share ideas, explore best practices, and grow together. We are a community of fundraisers who believe in collaboration over competition and in lifting each other up.
