steve kroll, nysarc...community organizing: a view from the field the “it matters to me” &...

Community Organizing:A View From the Field

The “It Matters To Me” &“It Matters To Me, Too” Campaigns

Steve Kroll, NYSARC

GOALTaking our advocacy to a higher level in a difficult public policy environment.

Residential waiting lists and lack of opportunities, especially for aging families

Workforce shortage: Wages, recruitment, and retention Pre-School funding Employment transformation & transition from of school Funding for investment in transformation and managed

care readiness Rate setting reform (highly technical)

“It Matters To Me”

Engaging Chapters in Grassroots Advocacy:

Chapter Presidents and Executives Grassroots advocates Family members The people we support Chapter Board members and volunteers Chapter staff

Original Challenge to Chapters and Members: visit every legislator

“It Matters To Me, Too ”

Engaging a Broader Community and Grasstops

Upgraded Challenge to Chapters and Members: continue engaging every legislator and involve community members and neighbors Neighbors and businesses who partner with and/or

support Chapters Opinion leaders

Local government officials, media, academic leaders, clergy, business leaders, leaders of other community institutions, service clubs, foundations, etc.

Tapping Into Our Strengths

Our families Our self-advocates Our workforce Our expertise Our mission Our passion, energy, and enthusiasm Our economic impact on our communities

Building a Campaign Anchoring Theme – “It Matters To Me” Innovation and Motivation (cool technology) Video postcard sent to every legislator and

members Comprehensive toolkit and website specifically

designed for the audience Human impact on persons and programs Financial impact Impact on Chapter as an economic engine Statewide, regional, and Chapter impact

Providing a Menu Giving every Chapter the tools needed to pick from a

menu of activities Local videos Press events Town Hall meetings Legislative events Social media presence Letters to the editor, op-eds, and editorial boards

Simple, clear, and repeated messages

What Happened?

“It Matters to Me” caught on, bringing about “It Matters to Me, Too”

Dozens of videos, dozens of meetings, dozens of media stories

Beginnings of a social media community Motivation to begin mobilizing a state-wide community Incremental progress, but not nearly enough to be rest

on our success

Next Up: Statewide Workforce CoalitionAchieving a Living Wage for Our Professionals

#bFair2DirectCare statewide supporters include:

• Alliance of Long Island Agencies (ALIA)• Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State (CP of NYS)• The Developmental Disability Alliance of Western New York

(DDAWNY)• The InterAgency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies (IAC)• The NYS Association of Community Residential Agencies (NYSACRA)• NYSARC, Inc.• New York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA)

#bFair2DirectCare

bfair2directcare@gmail.com

“It Matters To Me”

Campaign Planning Guide

Community Organizing:A View From the Field

The “It Matters To Me” &“It Matters To Me, Too” Campaigns

Steve Kroll, NYSARCkrolls@nysarc.org