Advocacy Impact: How to get started Growing a Grassroots Network HCBS Conference Sept. 13, 2011 1
What will you need? Your Model Leadership Passionate, key staff Great self advocates Power and a budget Communication tools Action! Recognition, celebrations and evaluations 2
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Who are we? Largest and oldest human service non profit organization in Minnesota Locations in all 87 counties Support 2,300 staff in 18 lines of service Personal Support Services Support 1200 staff Support 700 individuals 3
Our Mission and Vision Mission: Lutheran Social Service of MN expresses the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives and builds community. Vision: That all people have the opportunity to live and work in community with dignity, safety, and hope. 4
Why Grassroots Advocacy? Advocacy simply means speaking up. People we support are greatly impacted by the decisions of our elected officials A wealth of strength exists in our self advocates, employees, families, community members and clergy. We are all experts of our own experiences and we can share our story with legislators. 5
LSS Model Advocacy Committee Regional Teams Advocacy 101 Train the Trainer PSS is supported by the LSS Advocacy Office Advocacy should always be EASY, EFFECTIVE and FUN! 6
Leadership Buy in from leadership at multiple levels Cabinet Level Director Level Supervisory Level Create a culture of advocacy Include advocacy in job descriptions and performance reviews Setting the expectation that advocacy is part of your work Make it fun! 7
Key staff who are already passionate about advocacy and respected by their peers can serve as an inspiration to other staff and help them to feel confident in their abilities as they become more comfortable with the advocacy process. 8
Great Self Advocates Self advocacy is a civil and human rights movement of individuals and organizations to empower people with developmental and other disabilities to speak for themselves, to make their own decisions and to stand up for their rights at home, in the workplace, in the community and between people. 9
Give them a budget and power Go forth and multiplyallow your leaders to be the experts Determine what works best in each region Create a team environment Advocacy Network Teams (ANTS) 10
Ongoing Communication Monthly conference calls Email distribution list Central location for information intranet pages Legislative Tracking System Annual Planning Summit Evaluation Calendar planning for next year 11
Taking Action Holiday Card writing Letter and email writing campaigns Phone calling Meetings at the Capitol Home Visits Action alerts Days at the Capitol Candidate Forums Town Hall Meetings Letters to the editor Elections All build relationships with legislators! 12
Taking Action things to remember Stories! It s all about building relationships. Rules of Engagement Be Brief Be Real Frame The Issue Make an ask Follow up after you meet a legislator to continue building a relationship. Offer yourself as a resource You are the expert! 13
Elections! Nonprofits cannot support, endorse or oppose any political parties or candidates. Know your voting rights, laws and limits. Nonprofits SHOULD be participating in Elections we have credibility, trust and access to many potential voters who have often been underrepresented. We can ENCOURAGE participation and provide information about voting, but we cannot tell our employees or people we serve who to vote for. Candidate events, voter registration, voter reminders, encouragement, voter education Office of the Secretary of State 14
Recognize and Celebrate Your Successes Eunice Shriver Award Leadership Award Self Advocate Awards Celebration at organization level and local level 15
Spring Fling Celebration & Awards 16
Evaluation & Planning PSS Summer Summit What worked well? What were our challenges? What will we do next time? Our Biggest Possibilities 17
Regional Calendars January Write welcome notes Invite legislators for site visits February Day at the Capitol! Town Hall Meetings March Write letters and send photos of site visits to legislators Letter to the editor April Tuesday at the Capitol! Legislative Spring Break invite for site visits May Spring Fling Awards June Invite legislators to postsession parties & site visits July Take a break! August Candidate site visits Annual Planning Summit September Candidate Forum October Election education SOS voter training Prepare election kits November Election turnout! December Holiday card writing party Cookie Exchange 18
Let s get to work! 19
Contact us: facebook.com/lssmn Debra Koop Director of Training and QE Personal Support Services 716 E Street Brainerd, MN 56401 Deb.koop@lssmn.org Cell: 218 838 2088 20