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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Leadership and Action
What makes someone a good leader? 4

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Policy Development 8

9. WHY IS POLICY IMPORTANT?
Specific Projects
Framework
Policy 9

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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