Advocacy Training Spring 2012

What are the SMART criteria and why are they important in guiding project planning? Let’s be SMART about action planning Specific Measurable Actionable Realistic Timely Use these criteria as a guide to question and push your students in their planning.

Focus Issue Goal Strategies Tactics Root Cause(s) SMART Approach Specific? Measureable? Actionable? Realistic? Timely?

Your root cause is the reason behind your focus issue. It describes why the problem exists. (There may be more than one root cause, of course, but it's better to pick just one to work on right now.) Understanding Root Cause

Students feel unprepared for college requirements – Current course offerings lack relevant college prep – Information, materials, and opportunities available through guidance counselors’ office are insufficient From Focus Issue to Root Cause

Students feel unprepared for college requirements – Current course offerings lack relevant college prep – Information, materials, and opportunities available through guidance counselors’ office are insufficient Bullying is widespread between racial groups – School lacks sense of community between diverse populations – Appropriate consequences for it are vague and vary across the district From Focus Issue to Root Cause

Students feel unprepared for college requirements – Current course offerings lack relevant college prep – Information, materials, and opportunities available through guidance counselors’ office are insufficient Bullying is widespread between racial groups – School lacks sense of community between diverse populations – Appropriate consequences for it are vague and vary across the district Teen unemployment is high – Jobs are not easily accessible by public transportation – Students aren't getting jobs because they lack the skills local employers desire From Focus Issue to Root Cause

Focus Issue: Teen Pregnancy Teen pregnancy rates are high at the school. What are possible root causes of the problem? Your Turn!

Your goals are broad aims within your focus issue which are accomplished and measured in terms of your strategies. Sample goals include: – Get a voting student representative on the academic affairs committee that starts meeting in March – Reduce (by X%) the incidence of bullying in your city – Boost teen employment by increasing job readiness for students in your neighborhood Creating Goals

Your strategies are the means by which you accomplish a goal. Sample strategies include: – Lobbying school board officials to create a permanent student position – Convincing city council members to support an important bill on bullying – Working with local employers to create an after-school job training program Choosing Strategies

Guiding Question: Which decision-maker(s) can help me accomplish my goal? Guiding Question: Why would the decision- maker(s) do what we want them to do? Guiding Question: What strategies should we use? How Do We Get This Done?

From Goals to Strategies Effective Action Plan Strategies Lobbying Coalition- Building Media

Wha What is lobbying? Lobbying Strategy Why lobby? Directly persuading a decision-maker to do something How could this look in your pyramid? Your lobbying strategy should include: Who you are attempting to influence What you are attempting to accomplish

Wha What is coalition-building? Coalition-Building Strategy Why build a coalition? Forming a group of supporters to advocate for your goal How could this look in your pyramid? Your coalition-building strategy should include: Which people or groups should be brought in What you are attempting to accomplish

Wha What is a media strategy? Media Strategy Why use media? Influencing public perceptions of your goal How could this look in your pyramid? Your media strategy should include: Which audience(s) are you trying to reach? What message do you want conveyed/what do you want them to do? Which outlets will you use to reach them?

Focus Issue Goal Strategies Tactics Root Cause(s) SMART Approach Specific? Measureable? Actionable? Realistic? Timely? LobbyingCoalition-BuildingMedia

Your tactics are the tools by which you will accomplish your strategies. Sample tactics include: – Jointly publish op-ed with PTA president advocating for student voice in local and school papers – Meeting with a councilman to present a list of recommendations for bullying legislation – Survey local employers to find gaps between students’ skills and employers’ needs Choosing Tactics

Wha Sample tactics include: Holding a meeting Writing an op-ed Using social media Mobilizing others Public speaking Asserting indirect influence Writing a letter to the editor Creating a blog Choosing Tactics

Describe the relationship between goals, strategies, and tactics. Stop and Share

Effective Action Plan Strategies Lobbying Coalition- Building Media

Absenteeism from school Focus Issue Get bus transportation for everyone Convince MBTA board to alter bus routes to ensure sufficient service Goal(s) Get school and MBTA to care about the issue Lobby MBTA board members to support new routes Generate and demonstrate public support for route changes Strategies Make a poster campaign Collect video and statements from 20 students/teachers about causes of absenteeism to show to MBTA board members Get principal and PTA head to co-author Op-Ed calling upon MBTA to support route changes Tactics Guided Practice Root Cause(s) Insufficient bus routes that pass school in the AM SMART Approach

Presence of homeless people on streets Focus Issue ? Goal(s) ? Strategies ? Tactics Root Cause(s) No shelters in the neighborhood SMART Approach Independent Practice