2012 ACTrees Day Advocacy Session
34
November 13 2012 Sacramento, CA
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Transcript of 2012 ACTrees Day Advocacy Session
November 13 2012 Sacramento, CA
“Affec7ng Public Policy: Opportuni)es for All”
Moderator ScoB Fogarty, Execu(ve Director, Friends of Trees and ACTrees Policy Commi<ee Co-‐Chair
• Connie Gallippi, Sr. Policy Consultant Conserva(on Strategy Group • Chuck Mills, Program Mgr-‐Grants, CA ReLeaf and ACTrees Policy
Commi<ee Co-‐Chair
Advocacy in your Community
Tips & Techniques Toward Becoming an Effec(ve Advocate
Why Advocate
Garner support
Influence Policy
Secure Funding
Characteris(cs of an Effec(ve Advocate
Knows what he/she needs
Can make it compelling to other people
Can relate it to other issues
How do you define what you need?
Start by understanding what stands between you and success. Is it:
• Permission to proceed? • More people? • More money? Different money? (i.e. do you need a
bigger slice of the pie or a different pie?) • Policy or legisla(on? • Equipment (capital v. opera(ng)? • Access to an appropriate site?
How do you describe what you need?
• Carefully craX your language • Avoid techno-‐speak and acronyms • Keep in mind your audience may care for different reasons
• Use words that are proven to be effec(ve
How to be Compelling to Others
• Know your audience
• Focus on benefits of your project, not technical details
• Use their language
• Solve their problem
Change the topic sentence Be part of something BIGGER such as:
• Climate change • Stormwater • Sustainable communi(es • Urban greening • Energy conserva(on • Air pollu(on reduc(on • Water quality improvement • Soil reten(on • Pubic health
Who is your audience?
Their permission? Their money?
Their help? A policy
change or new legisla(on?
Do you need:
The Usual Suspects
Local Mayor and City Councilmembers
and Commissioners
County Supervisors and
Commissioners
Agencies such as Public Works,
Parks, Sanita(on
State
Assemblymember or Senator
Resource / Conserva(on / Public Works Agencies
Federal
Member of Congress
Agency such as USDA Forest Service or EPA
Private
Business/corporate partners
Founda(ons and other private
funders
Other NGOs
The Influencers
Community Groups
Organized Labor
Chambers of Commerce and Business Councils
Environmental Groups / NGOs Others
The OXen Overlooked
Who?
Why them?
• Advocacy begins at home.
• Ins(tu(onal buy-‐in is essen(al to success, and without it external advocacy is oXen for naught.
Your boss Your board
Your boss’s boss
Your coworkers
The Effec(ve Advocate…
Cul(vates rela(onships before he or she needs them
The Effec(ve Advocate
Listens as much or more than he/she
talks
• The applause meter goes up when they are talking
• The more they talk, the more you learn
Researches his/her audience
• Interests • Priori(es • Programs
Typical Advocacy Situa(ons
Meet with agency representa(ves
Meet with elected officials
Build coali(ons
When is the best (me to approach…
An agency?
Prior to and during an agency Request For Proposals (RFP)
process
When agencies are preparing budget proposals
Note that these (mes are different at the local, state, and
federal level
An elected official?
Prior to a Legisla(ve Session
During the Legisla(ve Session if you need changes to a bill already introduced or for
budget ac(on
Timelines are different at the local, state, and
federal level
Tips for working with agencies
Do your homework to understand the agencies and individuals
How much MONEY do they have available ?
What OTHER PROJECTS are they involved in?
What is the agency’s AUTHORITY and jurisdic(on?
Tips for working with elected officials
Cul(vate rela(onships before you need them
Approach ALL elected officials who represent your region
Approach those that serve on relevant policy or budget commi<ees or likely allies whether or not they happen to represent your area.
Typical Advocacy Situa(ons
Start with program or field staff if needed
15 minutes max – be prepared and organized
Show how your needs/project fits into their vision and objec(ves
Tips for Pitching your Project
Solid project
Community support
Complement the elected official’s priori(es
Go prepared
Bring a concise descrip(on of the project
Bring a map if appropriate
Tips for Pitching your Project
• Invite them to a project visit
• Leave behind a one-‐pager outlining key elements of your project
Coali(on Building
U(li(es Water Agencies Public Works Agencies
Local Nonprofits Environmental Groups
Business Associa(ons/ Individuals
Working with coali(ons and other partners can be a great way to gain and build support for your project
Remember:
Your program is only important to you … un(l others validate your work.
A coali(on gives you: Credibility Broad support Poli(cal influence A be<er story to tell More funding opportuni(es More hands to do the work
Chuck Mills
Emerging Opportunities for Urban Forestry through Public Policy
Emerging Opportunities at the Local Level:
Urban Forestry as a Mitigation Tool • Sacramento Tree Foundation • Sacramento Metro AQMD • US Forest Service
• Revenue Stream • Exportable Model • Trees for Air Quality
The Goal: Develop an urban forestry protocol to fit within a greenhouse gas exchange for
emitters regulated under CEQA
Emerging Opportunities at the State Level:
Urban Forestry to improve Water Quality
• California ReLeaf Network • Statewide Partners • State Legislature
The Goal: Add urban forestry to an $11 billion bond written in 2009 that will be trimmed by up to 50% in
order to pass it off the 2014 ballot.
• Portfolio of related projects • Coalition of Support • In-District Visits
Emerging Opportunities at the Federal Level: Urban Forestry as part of America’s Mosaic
• Alliance for Community Trees • U.S. Congress • YOU!
The Goal: Augment U&CF Funding within Farm Bill while Defending against Attacks
on Existing Levels
• SUFC Support • Coalition Building • ACT Lobby Day
The Result: Money for Urban and Community Forestry at all Levels for all Reasons
• Engage! • Use the Tools • Build the Bridge
