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Public Policy Advocacy for
Social ChangeNever doubt that a
small group of
thoughtful, committedcitizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the
only thing that ever
has.Margaret Mead
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What is Advocacy?
Speaking, writing, or
acting in support of a
cause
Using a variety oforganized tactics to
achieve a public policy
goal
Demanding a change
to benefit the lives of
many
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Advocacy:
Asks something ofothers
Puts the demands ofpeople into systems
Deals with issues andconflicts
Involves people
Creates a space forpublic discussion
Finds solutions toproblems
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Focus for Advocacy
The Legislature
The Executive
Regulatory Agencies
The Judiciary
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Social Justice Advocacy
Challenging power Assuming risks
Telling stories
Involving those
affected Offering alternatives
Principles vs.compromise
Balancing the scales ofjustice and equity
Holding ourselves
accountable
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Vision, Mission, and Goals Vision - Your picture
of the ideal situation
Mission What yourorganization will do toget there
Goals Significantsteps toward the vision
Objectives The
means to accomplishthe goals
Action Steps Concrete steps to
achieve the objectives
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How Change Happens
Power concedes
nothing without a
demand. It never hasand it never will.
-Frederick Douglas
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Stages of Change
Denial of the need forchange
Resistance to change
Exploration of thechange
Managing the change
Collaboration
Compromise
Maintaining
momentum
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Change Agents
Understand context,barriers to change, andstages of change
Listen
Respond Advocate
Pursue change
Intervene at thesystems level
Team with others
Facilitate
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Strategic Planning Process
Set ground rules Ask all questions
Share experiences andopinions
Leave space for others
Be informal and relax
All opinions count
Keep it simple
Brainstorm Small group
Accept all ideas withoutdebate
Facilitate if necessary
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Strategic Planning Questions
Who do they need to
hear it from?
Expert voices
Authentic voices
How do we get them to
hear it?
Persuasion Pressure
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Strategic Planning Questions
What do we have tobuild on?
Leadership
Supporters
Information
Resources
Tools
Access
Messages
What do we need to
develop?
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Strategic Planning Questions
How do we begin?
Big enough to matter
Small enough to win
How do we know itsworking?
Implemented plan?
Increased engagement?
Improvements?
Where do we go from
here?
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Information and Research
Knowledge will forevergovern ignorance
Know the most about yourissue
Find as many sources ofinformation as possible
Research arguments forand against
Know who supports and
who opposes Conduct surveys and
opinion polls
Use a survey to inform and
educate
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Why do people get involved?
They believe the issue isimportant to them andtheir family
They believe they havesomething to contribute
They believe that they willbe listened to and theircontributions respected
They believe that theirparticipation will make adifference
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How do people stay involved?
Multiple opportunities for
participation, from a small
contribution of time to
progressively largercontributions of time and
effort
The level of participation
varies depending on life
circumstances.
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Staying Involved
Constituent receive
sufficient advance notice.
Constituent participation is
facilitated:
Child care
Transportation
Dinner
Education & information
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Staying Involved
Constituents are
listened to; their ideas
are supported andrespected.
Constituents do not
experience retribution
as a result of their
participation.
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Staying Involved
Their participation has
an impact it makes
an appreciabledifference.
Their participation is
appreciated; that
appreciation isacknowledged.
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Opportunities to Participate in
Advocacy
Tell their stories verballyto an advocate & give
permission to share
Tell their stories verballywithin a small group(focus group)
Tell their stories verballyto policymakers (at publichearing, meeting withmonitors, at their school ordistrict forum, etc.)
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Participation Opportunities
Share their stories in
writing through:
Letter to the state Letter to the editor
Letter to the monitors
Letter to an advocate
with permission todisclose
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Participation Opportunities
Reach out to encourage
other constituent
participation
Assist in collection of
documentation
Assist in analysis of
information
Assist in information
dissemination
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Participation Opportunities
Serve as co-trainers
Serve as members of
task forces andcommittees
Facilitate public
forums
Serve as members of
monitoring teams
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Preparation for Participation
Offer trainings, developed
jointly with constituents &
advocates
Develop & disseminateinformative, useful
materials
Meet and talk with
constituents, sharinginformation, listening
carefully to their strengths,
needs & concerns
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Demonstrate constituent independence &
contribution.
Develop a plan to identify
a diverse, representative
group of constituents
During & after meetings,
specifically recognize the
value of the constituents
participation
Recognize individual
constituent strengths while
respecting differing
methods of coping &
adjustment
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Provide constituent-identified supports
to assist participation.
Provide convenient
meeting times & locations.
Compensate constituents
for time, expertise &expenses.
Clearly identify someone
to be the primary contact
for reimbursement & other
issues; timely
reimbursement & contacts
are essential
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Provide constituent-identified
supports Provide direct staff
support, stipends, travelexpenses, & childcare
Identify these supports in
RFPs, grants, & policies Provide complete,
appropriate informationprior to meetings in atimely manner
Match veteran memberswith inexperienced ones tosupport new members &share ideas
P id i id ifi d
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Provide constituent-identified
supports
Recognize that some
constituents may
require more and
different kinds of
support than others
Encourage and
facilitate constituent-
to-constituent supportand networking
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Provide formal orientation &
information Provide orientations about
the issues, participants &
process.
Provide informational
support for constituents toparticipate as equal
partners on a level
playing field
Provide technicalassistance, leadership
mentoring, training, &
other leadership training
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Ensure diversity among
constituents Honor the racial,
ethnic, cultural, &socioeconomicdiversity of families.
Provide all materials inthe constituents
preferred language.
Recruit broadly fromthe community and thetarget population.
Bring in newconstituents.
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Ensure diversity
Adapt collaborative
models to diverse
cultures. Manage
changing distribution
of power &
responsibility.
Incorporate principles
of collaboration into
professional education.
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Ensure diversity
Ensure broadrepresentation among
groups based on the
communities in
question. Be particularly careful
to include members of
traditionally
underserved groups.
Avoid any appearance
of tokenism.
B d t h h t
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Be ready to hear what
constituents say.
Encourage and supportconstituents to find their
voice.
Ensure that member
perspectives are notconsidered a separate
component of the policy-
making process, but are
infused throughout.
Always consider an
individual constituents
story as valid.
R t th i tit t
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Respect the passion constituents
have for change. Support staff in
developing anunderstanding of the valueof constituent
participation.
Provide clear informationabout your goals and howconstituent input and
participation fits in.
Balance membershipbetween constituents andadvocates.
Consider shared leadership co-chairs
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Remember:
Empowering families toparticipate in advocacy
for their children, their
community, the larger
society, is its ownvictory, regardless of the
specific outcome of any
particular effort.
Democracy is not a
spectator sport!
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Outreach Strategies
Door-knocking
Welfare office, foodpantry, school
Organizational media
Community media
Mass media
Mediatinginstitutions
Public forums
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Mobilization
Moving fromspectators to
participants
Turning opinions into
actions Making a phone call
Sending a fax or e-mail
Writing a letter
Visiting a policymaker
Demonstration, march,
sit-in
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Mobilization Steps
Present information:
Your cause
The activity or event
Why its important
Outreach to constituents &allies
Phone, fax, e-mail, mail
One-on-one
Other organizations Orientation
Needed supports for
participation
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Action Alert Network
Develop & maintainAction Alert list
Monitor key policy
developments
Summarize key points,
pros and cons, actions
Mail, e-mail, fax, call
to alert network Maintain copies of
action responses
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Organizing vs. Mobilizing
Mobilizing Shorter-term
For particular action
Less time commitment
Organizing
Longer-term, for the
long haul
More involved indecision-making
Greater time
commitment
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Leadership
Inspire and help peoplework toward a goal
Can be shared
Differing roles:
Visionaries
Strategists
Historians
Resource mobilizers
Statespersons Communicators
Outside sparkplugs
Inside negotiators
Generalists
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Key Leadership Qualities Effective communicators
Good listeners Develop team spirit &
cohesiveness
Understanding & aware
Recognize accomplishments
Constructive criticism
Encourage & motivate
Facilitate resolution of disputes
Delegate & build others
Accept responsibility, takeinitiative
Offer help, information
Ask for help
Make things happen, but donthave to be the center of
attention
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Leaders Problem-Solve
State problem simply& clearly
Gather & organizerelevant info &
resources
List potential solutions
Evaluate each one
Select the best one Design a plan to use
Evaluate outcomes &readjust when needed
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Leaders Know Themselves
Who am I? What am I doing here
What are my: Goals, purposes
Expectations Motivations?
What strengths &challenges do I bring?
How can I best use myleadership skills?
How can I make spacefor others?
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Leadership Development
Individual advocacy
Peer advocacy
Public policy advocacy
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Advocacy Leadership Knowledge
Laws & regulations How institutions work
Key decision-makers
Formal & informaldecision-making
Facts; current status
Barriers & solutions
Qualities of effective
systems
Existing resources
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Advocacy Leadership Skills
Empathy
Listening
Written & oral
communication
Critical reading & thinking Collaboration
Consensus-building
Problem-solving
Conflict resolution
Strategic planning
Growing leadership
H P li i M d
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How Policies are Made
Legislature/laws:
Introduced
Referred to committee
Considered bycommittee
Hearing/publiccomment
Reported out withamendments/changes
Passed by one house Referred to next house
Passed by 2nd house
Goes to Governor
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How Policies Are Made
Executive/Governor:
Signs into law as is
Conditionally veto(return for specific
changes)
Veto (overridden by
supermajority of both
houses)
Pocket veto within last
45 days of session
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How Policies Are Made
Regulations: Draft regulations basedon law
Publish in Federal orState Register
Public comment/publichearing
Respond to comments
Make revisions
Publish in Register Go into effect
Implemented by agency
R hi P li k
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Reaching Policymakers
Call * Write * Visit
Brief and to the point
Stick to one subject
Identify yourself
How will you andothers be affected?
Be clear about what
you want
Be accurate & specific Be polite & positive
Offer your help
Follow up!
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Reaching the Grassroots
Call * Write * Visit Letter sent to a
legislator can be a letter
to the editor
Message on alegislators message
machine can be called
in to radio talk show
Testimony at hearingcan be presented at
church, PTA,
community group
meeting
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Phone Calls, E-Mail, Faxes
Ask to speak to thelegislator or aide
Note your legislative
district Give bill # & name
Explain why the issue isimportant to you
Jot down speaking pointsin advance
Write notes on yourconversation
Follow up!
L tt d P t d
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Letters and Postcards
Handwritten neatly ortyped
Use own words
Personalize
Be brief
Stick to key point(s)
Avoid form letters
Develop sample letterswith messages
Identify yourself
Use bill # & title
Be timely
Follow up!
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Effective Advocacy Writing
Be clear about whatyou want to say andhow it will be heard
Be careful about your
tone Understand that
communication isfiltered and may be
blocked Communication is
never value-free
P f Ad W i i
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Purpose of Advocacy Writing
Share facts Guide reader to a clear
understanding of issue
Persuade/convincereader to think the way
you do
Persuade/convince
reader to act the wayyou want them to
T f Ad W iti
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Types of Advocacy Writing
Op-Ed piece Letter to editor
Press advisory/release
Letter to policymaker
Letter of complaint
Public testimony
Investigative report
Letters to inform &mobilize others
Activity notices
i f d i i
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Questions of Advocacy Writing
Who is the audience?
What is the issue &message?
When can you conveythe message?
Where can you conveythe message?
Why are you writing? How can you most
effectively conveyyour message?
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Advocacy Writing Tricks
Challenge with athought-provoking
question
Open with quotation
Offer a sip of your
conclusion
List all main points
Dramatic or eye-opening statement
Use an angle your
readers havent seen
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Advocacy Writing Tips
Keep it short & simple Watch punctuation, spelling
& organization Know
intended recipients
Have a clear goal Understand the context
Catch them in the beginning
Summarize/introduce,
explain, summarize/conclude Communication is a process
Have someone review your
work
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Testifying In advance
Monitor Federal andState Register
Mobilize authentic &
expert voices
Mobilize diverse
constituencies
Call to request time
Find out how muchtime and how many
copies to bring
Writing Testimony
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Writing Testimony Be brief & concise
Written is longer than oral Have a purpose
Identify yourself
State position, reasoning,and request
Personalize
Use your own words
Be substantive & giveexamples
Single space for them,double space for you
Make extra copies
Practice presentation &
rehearse questions!
Presenting Testimony
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Presenting Testimony
Dress properly
Arrive early Be prepared to shorten
testimony
Relax
Speak slowly & clearly
Avoid monotone
Look up, make eye
contact No disparaging remarks
Thank them for theopportunity
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Speaking in Public Prepare content and
delivery
Know your audience
and tailor to them
Emphasize key points
Establish eye contact
Use visual aids
Be brief Leave your opponent
with dignity intact
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Meeting with Elected Officials
Speak up
Be part of a group
Go with someone who has
experience Dont be afraid
Dont lie if you dontknow
Practice helps; role playbeforehand!
Be yourself
Preparing for Legislative Visits
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Preparing for Legislative Visits
Decide who you will
visit.
Establish agenda &
goals. Plan your visit.
Determine group
composition. Listen well.
P i f L i l ti Vi it
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Preparing for Legislative Visits
Be prepared, but dont
feel everyone has to be
an expert.
Dont get intimidatedor frustrated.
Be on time, and dont
stay too long.
Build a relationship.
Follow up!
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IRS Rules for Non-Profits
No supporting or opposingcandidates
Can do candidate surveys &
disseminate results
Limits on lobbying
No appreciable amount
IRS election: 20%
Funder restrictions
Lobbying involves specific
legislation
Regulatory advocacy is not
lobbying
Regulatory Advocacy
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Regulatory Advocacy
Determine agency withjurisdiction
Identify responsibleparty within agency
Develop relationships
Know relevant lawgoverning regulations(AdministrativeProcedures Act)
Monitor media, State& Federal Registers
R l t Ad
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Regulatory Advocacy
Develop a plan Comments on draft Responsibilities
Potential opposition
Compromises Develop coalitions
Get broad endorsement
Use legislative
oversight Mobilize grassroots
G & M di Ad
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Grassroots & Media Advocacy
Communicate Own constituency
Own supporters
Potential Allies
General public
Use media Your media
Grassroots media
Community papers,radio, & public accessTV
Mass media
Coalition Advocacy
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Coalition Advocacy
Builds support
Combines power &resources
Reduces competition forfunding & support
More efficient Provides support &
expertise to smaller groups
Strength in numbers
Strength in diversity Broadened skills &
expertise
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Coalition Advocacy
Need clarity of goals andhow they fit with eachorganization
Clear decision-makingprocesses
Strong communicationsplans
Ensure all contribute, havea say, and get credit
Conflict resolutionmechanisms
Q ti f C liti
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Questions for Coalitions
Temporary orpermanent?
Agreed on issues?
Differences among
groups? Gifts of each?
Stuff to give up?
Stuff to gain?
Anticipated conflicts &compromises?
Strategies to address?
Leadership/
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eade s p/
Maintaining a Strong Organization
Intense dedication to
improving outcomes for
substantial numbers
High commitment to
maintenance activities:
Define responsibilities
Good communication
Clear decision-making
Sufficient funding
Effective Strategies Shape Action
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Effective Strategies Shape Action
Ongoing:
Planning
Implementation
Evaluation
Revision of plan
Persistent focus on key
systems & central issues
Understand specific changes
needed
Bring about changes
Monitor implementation to
make sure improvements take
place
Information
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Information
Document problems
and solutions Develop accurate
map of systems how they work, whos
important,relationships Formal
Informal
Know how othergroups have solved
problems
Building Support
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Building Support
Use media tocommunicate viewsand mobilize others
Develop support
networks Build well-organized,
committedconstituency capable of
mobilizing substantialpolitical power
Intervention
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Intervention
Multiple levels
Multiple tacticsNegotiations
Demonstrations
Filing complaints Testifying
Writing, calling,visiting
Continue directpressure
Persistence!