I want to be honest about something: advocacy can be scary.

Calling a legislator. Showing up to a hearing. Hosting an accountability event. Even clicking a link that says “toolkit” can make your stomach tighten a little. It can feel intimidating, bureaucratic, or like something meant for other people: people who are louder, more confident, more experienced, or more “political.”

But here’s the thing I’ve learned, over, and over again: advocacy isn’t about being fearless. It’s about having support, clarity, and the right tools in your hands.

That’s why we’ve built, and continue to grow, a set of toolkits designed to make civic engagement more accessible, more human, and more empowering for people at every starting point. Some of these resources are statewide, like:

• The MomsRising NH Legislature Toolkit (and a print-friendly version) for understanding how to engage with lawmakers,
• The MomsRising NH Education Advocacy Toolkit for navigating local school governance and funding conversations,
• The MomsRising NH Session Tracks (Legislative Priorities) so you know what we’re focused on and why,
• The 2025 New Hampshire Budget Hearing Toolkit for showing up during one of the most important decision-making moments of the year.

Others are hyper-local accountability tools, created to support real people in real communities– Manchester, Dover, Nottingham, Hampstead, Barrington/Strafford, and towns across the Monadnock regions:

• Manchester Accountability Toolkit
• Barrington Accountability Toolkit
• Nottingham Accountability Toolkit
• Hampstead Accountability Toolkit
• Dover Accountability Toolkit
• Monadnock Accountability Toolkit

Whether you’re brand new to advocacy or have been showing up for years, these resources are here to meet you where you are. This is a living page that will continue to grow as we expand and refine our tools.

The MomsRising NH toolkits are designed to demystify the process of speaking up. They offer clear, step-by-step guidance and remind you that you don’t have to do everything perfectly to make a real difference.

These toolkits exist because advocacy doesn’t only happen at the State House. It happens in libraries, town halls, living rooms, and community spaces across New Hampshire.

When you understand what’s happening and have language and structure to lean on, something shifts. You don’t need to be an expert or know everything. You just need enough information and support to take the next step. That’s what these tools are for.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t know enough,” “I’m not political,” “I don’t want to do it wrong,” or “This feels intimidating,” know this: you are exactly who advocacy is for.

Democracy works best when it’s accessible: when parents, caregivers, and everyday people feel empowered to participate all year long. Our hope is that these tools make advocacy feel less daunting and more doable, less lonely and more collective. Because when we have power and knowledge, we don’t just speak up– we create change, together.