Resident Leadership Academy SESSION SEVEN LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY & POLICY DEVELOPMENT 1

Session 7: Leadership, Advocacy and Policy Development Welcome Session Review Leadership and Action City Council Mock up Activity Policy Development Closing Session Objectives: 1. To identify the steps of effective community action 2. To identify different mechanisms for creating community change 3. To be able to advocate as an effective community leader, connecting the grassroots to the “tree tops” 2

Land Use and Community Planning Session SESSION REVIEW Land Use and Community Planning Session What do you remember from the session? Reactions to homework assignments you completed? A question you have? 3

Leadership and Action What makes someone a good leader? 4

HOW TO BE A COMMUNITY LEADER Community Consensus-Building Model Establish Relationships: Have “one-on-one” conversations Build Consensus: Look for common themes concerns/issues/motivations Convene: Meet and build trust (Bond social capital) Engage: Focus on self-help efforts (Bond social capital) * Community takes ACTION * Something significant changes Develop: Local leadership (spread credit/build confidence) Evaluate: Ask community if effort was worthwhile Issue Identification Coalition Building Strategic Planning Implementation Highlight the importance of consensus building and discuss how although people may have different views and opinions, common threads can be identified that tie people together. 5 Consensus Organizing Theory/Model- Mike Eichler, SDSU

Type #1: Environmental Improvement Project a. Park clean up TYPES OF ACTION Type #1: Environmental Improvement Project a. Park clean up b. Light bulb replacement Type #2: Policy Change Project a. Surveys, letter writing, outreach, education b. Example: Closing Red Light Camera Program Policy acts as a GUIDE vs. Ordinance acts as an ENFORCER 6

Non-Effective Interaction with Officials We’re interested in building a new community park! Let’s talk about what it will take to make that happen. Don’t: Be argumentative Be long-winded Be arrogant Be repetitive Pretend to know things you don’t Go over allotted time Be rude 7

Policy Development 8

WHY IS POLICY IMPORTANT? Specific Projects Framework Policy 9

City council mock-up activity Break into groups of 3-4 people: Group #1 = Residents asking for longer walk times at crosswalk Group #2 = Residents asking for a safe walk path to the park Group #3 = Residents asking for a crosswalk by the school Preparation Questions: What common ground could you have with the City Council on your issue? What message do you want to send City Council about your issue? What resistance do you think City Council will have to your issue/request? 10

Unsafe crossing in front of nearby elementary school COMMUNITY CONCERNS Unsafe crossing in front of nearby elementary school Short crosswalk walk times Busy bus stop in front of private residence Private gate that blocks sidewalk and bike lane 11

Assessing Potential Partners List who/what institution/ potentially has natural motivation and common ground with you Are any of your Potential Partners in appointed positions? Elected? How can you influence with them (as voters, consumers, taxpayers, through one-on-one conversations, etc.)? What is the self-interest of each potential partner? 12

Preparing for Opposition Think of critical points others might have against your project/idea Identify what common ground you may have with each of them What talking points could you use to point out common ground with your “opposition”? 13

THANK YOU! CONCLUSION Homework Options Questions? Comments? 1. Talk to at least (5) community members and identify their common ground and level of self-interest in the community issues we have raised in class. 2. Read Article 8 CIP: Needs and Opportunity Assessment 14