building coalitions and putting them to work perla cavazos october 16, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Building Coalitions and Putting Them to Work
Perla CavazosOctober 16, 2015
What we’ll cover
Highlight the importance of creating and leveraging coalitions
Tips on building partnerships and coalitions
Tips on how to use the coalitions to educate and influence local and state policy makers
Additional Resources
Partnerships and Coalitions
Why coalitions form:Respond to an opportunity or a threat or eventExpand an organizations’ limited time, expertise, resources, services, media coverage, contact with vulnerable populations or influenceProvide FocusAchieve better resultsHelp a community analyze its issues to identify and implement multiple strategies that lead to policy, social and environmental change.
Why is it important? Because you will get things done better and more quickly
Building relationships & coalitions among those with similar goals is an important part of making meaningful progress on any complex social issue.
You will find stakeholders from various backgrounds who may not normally interact with each other but who have helpful experiences, perspectives, resources and constituents.
A broad network of partners is most effective for sharing best practices, resources and reach, as well as engaging & educating the community.
Building Partnerships and Coalitions
Overview: Steps for Building an Effective CoalitionDevelop your leadership teamRecruit diverse community organizations & convene the coalitionAssess community strengths, assets and resourcesDevelop a community action plan with feasible and appropriate goals, objectives and strategiesImplement and sustain policy and environmental change strategies to reach goalsEvaluate and improve the coalition and its strategies
Building Partnerships and Coalitions
The first steps:Identify potential members from your priority sectorsExplore their motivations for joining - costs and benefitsDefine/refine the community issue(s) and share what each member needs and should contributeIn selecting, consider: activities and accomplishments, contributions, self-interests; conflictsThink about existing political, economic, & social realities, as well as what other groups are already doingThink about identifying members who will provide the assets/needs to implement feasible strategiesDiscuss expectations, concerns, and perspectives with potential members
Building Partnerships and Coalitions
At the First Meeting:Reach consensus on structure and missionDiscuss realistic goals and objectivesIs anyone missing at the table? Diversity is key.Create ground rules for coalition functioning and meeting etiquetteHave members complete commitment formsDecide how members will be acknowledged publiclyDevelop communication and feedback mechanisms with member organizations
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Building Partnerships and Coalitions
Implementation Stage:Find common groundShare informationLearn the issuesDevelop solutionsBetter define mission and rolesDevelop structure, leadership and decision-makingContinuous member recruitmentTake action!
Building Partnerships and Coalitions
Educating and Influencing Decision Makers
Put your coalition to workDon’t be afraid
Write a letter to the Editor or an Opinion Editorial to educate and influence public opinionContact or Visit Decision Makers – School Health Advisory Councils, School Board, City Council, County Commission, State Representatives and Senators, State Board of Education, Hospital DistrictTestify on an Issue at Meetings & Hearings
Educating and Influencing Decision Makers
Legislators love to hear from their constituents. They want to hear from you. They rely on your experience and ideas and support.
Cultivate relationships during the interim session.
Attend coffees or other events where you can meet your legislator.
Schedule a meeting with them or their staff in their district office.
Invite them to attend your events.Send notes or letters when they do something
positive for your issue.
Educating and Influencing Decision Makers
Send regular updates related to the policy issues you care about and viable solutions and ideas. Be helpful.
Send copies of op-eds and relevant articles. Then, during the regular session, they will know
who to contact for information and testimony.Testify at committee hearings to create visibility.Be prepared with a succinct message, solutions, be
prepared to answer questions & ALWAYS be respectful and courteous.
Don’t leave too much information behind. A one-pager is usually a good idea.
:An Example of an Advocacy Strategy –
Texas Access to Justice Coalition
Developed relationships over time Coalition building / Organized the team of influencers
& advocates (courts, non-profits, lawyers, clients)Presented the research (legislative district data)Knew their legislature and legislators (legislator
research, monitoring campaigns & news) Offered solutionsKnocked on doors at the capitol & in the district to
educate and advocateBuilt PR, good will and issue awareness
An Example of an Advocacy Strategy – Texas Access to Justice Coalition
Informed/reminded legislators that they a legal resource for their constituents
Shared client stories - Please remember to add personal stories to help illustrate why these issues matter so much.
Op-Eds & editorial meetingsLegislative awards and recognitionLegislative Resolutions (
http://vimeo.com/28327533)Annual gala/dinner
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Other resources
Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy – http://txcampaign.org/
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy - https://thenationalcampaign.org/
Texas Freedom Network - http://www.tfn.org/Coalition Work - http://coalitionswork.com/HHSC Disease Control and Prevention Services
Heather Bullis, MPH Phone Office: (512) 776-2521 Telecommute: (512) 519-9112 E-mail: [email protected]
Contact Information
Perla Cavazos
Director of Policy and Partnerships
Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
512.736.4485