What is "social math" in the context of advocacy?

"Social math" refers to a method of presenting numbers in a way that makes them more relatable and understandable to a broader audience. In advocacy, it is crucial to communicate complex statistics and data in a format that resonates with the public and stakeholders. By using social math, advocates can take large, abstract numbers and translate them into more tangible concepts that people can easily grasp. For instance, instead of saying that a certain number of people lack access to clean water, an advocate might say that it’s equivalent to the population of a major city, which allows the audience to visualize the impact more clearly.

This technique enhances the effectiveness of advocacy efforts as it encourages engagement and helps bridge the gap between technical data and the personal experiences of individuals, making the information more actionable and persuasive. It is particularly relevant in social work and advocacy, where the goal is to mobilize support and drive initiatives based on data-driven insights.