Building Political Will Advocacy Best Practices

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Building Political Will / Advocacy Best Practices

• Phyllis Gilberti
• Director of Field Mobilization
• 202-942-8258
• pgilberti_at_naeh.org

National Conference on Ending Family
Homelessness February 7, 2008
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How can we make federal policy change?

• Is building political will within the domain of
  possibility?
• A pattern of what works exists
• Two steps forward, 3 steps back.
• Weve changed the minds of elected officials.

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Role of National Organizations

• Lobbyist / National Expert
• Partner with local and state organizations to
  move policy forward constituents v DC based
  lobbyists
• Develop policy priorities based on input from
  local partners
• Role of coordinator and convenor

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Taking Advocacy to Scale in 2008

• Your Success
• Jane in Illinoiss Success
• Pete in Arizonas Success
• Real Change

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What Can You Do

• Lobby and / or
• Advocate and / or
• Educate and / or
• Provide information

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How Does Policy Change Happen?

• Getting this on the agenda of individual Members
  of Congress
• Accountability
• The only things that we will do (Congress) are
  the things that you make it impossible for us not
  to do.
• - Congressional staff to RESULTS (A nonprofit,
  grassroots citizens' lobby that identifies
  sustainable solutions to the problems of hunger
  and poverty as a human rights issue)

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How Does Policy Change Happen?

• Activities to raise attention and get
  homelessness on the agenda
• Writing Letters and Making Phone Calls to Elected
  Officials
• Relationship Building with elected officials and
  their staff
• In person meetings in Washington or in the
  district
• Media
• Public Education Town Hall Meetings etc

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How Does Policy Change Happen?

• Just because you say it doesnt mean that anyone
  is going to listen.
• Just because an elected official says it doesnt
  mean that it will happen.
• Persistence and follow through are the golden
  keys.

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• The definition of insanity is doing the same
  thing over and over and expecting different
  results.
• Benjamin Franklin

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Annes Story

• Began with no relationship with conservative
  House Member
• He said no to co-sponsoring homelessness
  legislation at least three times
• He ended up being a co-sponsor

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Opportunities with this Congress

• Creating Champions in Congress
• A Go To Person
• A Long Term Process
• Winning One Battle v The Long Term Fight

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Next Years Agenda and Goals

• An Election Year
• Short Term Asks
• Long Term Strategy
• Creating Go To People

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Discussion Questions

• Think of an advocacy accomplishment. What was
  accomplished and How?
• Are there any barriers that have prevented you
  from participating in advocacy efforts?
• Talk about a failed advocacy effort. What
  happened? Why did it fail?