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American Heart Association

You’re the Cure Advocate Training Part 1

Diane Pickles, M+R Strategic Services

April 7, 2010

AHA grassroots advocacy:

Creating a movement of You’re the Cure advocates

Grassroots visionTo create a strong and passionate community of advocates around each issue area in which the AHA is working

Trainings (5 sessions) will cover:• Understanding advocacy: what it is and

how to do it effectively

• Communicating persuasively with lawmakers and other key decision makers

• Telling your personal story

• You’re the Cure leadership opportunities

What is ADVOCACY?

Advocacy is the application of pressure and influence on the

people and institutions that have the power to give you

what you want.

7

The advocacy journey…

Why must we advocate?• Fighting obesity, funding for heart and

stroke prevention programs and research, and more…

• “All politics is local” – we have a LOT of influence as constituents and voters

• Creating a presence

• Quantity and quality both matter

You’re the Cure – results oriented advocacy

The collective advocacy of the You’re the Cure Network members has added up to millions of dollars in local, state and federal funds, FDA regulation of tobacco, and more.

Key considerations

• What do you want?• Why do you want it?• What person or institution has the POWER

to give it to you?• How will you build credibility with and get

access to those POWER brokers in order to influence their decision-making?

How does the AHA select its policy goals?• Assessment of priority policy needs

related to heart disease and stroke issues

• Assessment of the opportunities, challenges, and political environment related to priority policies

• Talking to AHA staff, advocates, and champions.

Overview of the AHA’s current policy goals• Funding for heart disease and stroke medical research• Tobacco control issues: program funding, increased

tobacco taxes, and smoke free public policies• Obesity prevention – promoting physical activity and

nutrition guidelines• Funding for heart disease and stroke prevention

programs• Ensuring access to care• Supporting emergency care issues – AEDs, CPR, etc

How does legislation happen?

“Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.”

- Otto von Bismarck

Debunking the myths

Who has the power to pass policy?

How and where advocates can influence the process…• Where?

– Everywhere! Advocates can weigh in and influence decision makers at any and every point in the decision making process

• How?– Emails, letters, phone calls, visits– Real stories– Quantity and quality

A lesson from Aristotle Three cornerstones of successful persuasion:

Logic – what a listener thinks; his/her intellect (science and facts)

Emotion – what a listener feels – anger, empathy, sadness (the human toll; real people and real lives; tug on the heartstrings)

Character – the listener’s perspectives, personality, and experiences; what is unique about the individual; his/her interests, passions, etc. (why he/she might care)

Stakeholder

Target

What do we

know/can we

learn about

their

constituents?

Where does

he/she get

their news? What issues

are they most

concerned

about?

Financial

supporters?

Organizations

& institutions

with which they

are engaged?

Personal

history/

family &

friends?

Education,

clubs &

affiliations?

What special connections do you have?• Do you personally know any key decision-makers

in your community?• Do you personally know anyone who works in the

media?• Do you personally know any leaders from the

business community?• Do you personally know any elected officials?• Do you have a close personal relationship with

someone else who has these connections?

Possible roles for You’re the Cure advocates

• Share your personal story with AHA, lawmakers, the media

• Take action online• Take action offline – attend a legislative hearing or

lobby day, visit your lawmaker in person, or send a letter to the editor of a local newsletter

• Host a house party for neighbors and friends• Participate as an advocacy volunteer at AHA

events like Heart Walks

Possible roles for You’re the Cure advocates

• Over time, become the “go-to person” on AHA policy issues for elected officials that serve your community

• During election season, ask candidates their positions on priority AHA policy issues and get them to go on record

• Are you a scientist?  Heart survivor?  Medical professional?  Share your expertise with lawmakers, the media and other volunteers and persuade them to support AHA policy change

Guest speakerMichaela Gagne, Fall River, MA

You’re the Cure.

Questions?Thank you for joining us!

Next webinar: April 19, 2010,

7:00p.m. EST