Robert Johnson

1. Livable Streets Advocacy Training Robert Johnson

2. Our Mission The unified voice for active living, promoting a healthy, safe and accessible outdoor experience for all in a vibrant, engaged community.

3. What is an Advocate? • Someone who pleads the cause of another; who defends or maintains a cause or proposal; or who supports or promotes the interests of another.

4. What is an Campaign? • A connected series of operations designed to bring about a particular result

5. Do You Want to Campaign?

6. We do Not Need to Be Negative

7. We do Not Need to Be Negative We do Not Need to Be Negative People are ready for this change

8. We do Not Need to Be Negative We do Not Need to Be Negative People are ready for this change People are ready for this change They just need to know about it

9. Complete Street (Before)

10. Millions of Missourians Cannot Drive • 1.2 million are under the age of 16 • 756,000 are over the age of 65 • 378,000 between 16-65 have at least one physical disability • 40% of all Missourians

11. Millions of Missourians Cannot Drive • 1.2 million are under the age of 16 • 756,000 are over the age of 65 • 378,000 between 16-65 have at least one physical disability • 40% of all Missourians Does the Status Quo work for them?

12. Finances The citizens of the United States sent 32.6 billion dollars of their wealth overseas on foreign oil

13. Finances The citizens of the United States sent 32.6 billion dollars of their wealth overseas on foreign oil In January 2011

14. Health Today’s children may be the first to not outlive their parents

18. Health & Finances No connections around school No sidewalks

19. Complete Street (Before)

20. Complete Street (After)

21. General Strategies for Effective Advocacy

22. Be an Informed Citizen • How transportation policies affect lives • Communicate policies to elected officials • Most of what you need to know can be found in the Advocacy Manual given to you today

23. Join an Advocacy Organization • Local: BikeWalkKC • State: KanBikeWalk and MoBikeFed • National: League of American Bicyclists • Funds • Email alerts

25. Educate Others • Ask what Livable Streets means to them • Slightly tweak • Handle objections

26. Facilitate Effective Meetings • Pick a time and place that is appropriate for the group • Build a strong agenda • Ensure good facilitation

27. Understand and Change Perspectives • You are here: You are likely not “normal!”

28. Perspectives; Ask Questions • If you did decide to walk or bicycle…… • What about Federal, State and local policy…..

29. Set Reasonable Goals and Compromise • Users and infrastructure at the same time • Baby steps

30. Be Completely Credible • Appearance • Positive & visionary • Follow up

31. Complete Streets Is Not A Partisan Issue So Do Not Make It One

32. Non-partisan • Identify the qualities of Livable Streets that appeal to the two main parties.

33. Steps to Building a Successful Campaign

34. Is Your Campaign the Right Fit? • Has reasonable prospects for victory • Results in definite community improvement • Engages important groups of people • Fits your organization or neighborhood’s mission, culture and resources • Leverages positive media

35. Step 1: Define Your Issue • Identify the problem • Formulate a solution • Illustrate how to implement the solution • List people who care about what’s at stake for them These are your stakeholders. • Formulate your Quick Pitch

36. Step 2: Set Your Campaign Goals • Goals should represent the social changes you wish to see • The long term goal should be be the overall goal of the campaign • Short and medium-term goals are steps toward the overall goal • Short and medium goals can be small • It is very important that your neighborhood or organization goals support the campaign

37. Step 3: Assess Your Resources: SWOT • List your strengths • E.g. Strong fundraising ability • List your weaknesses • E.g. No membership structure • Opportunities • E.g. Safe Routes to School Funding • Threats • E.g. Community detractors, NIMBYs

38. Step 4: Strategize:Who has the power to make the change you seek? • Primary Targets • Specific people • Not simply “city council or MoDOT” • Who can apply for that grant; who must support your effort? • Secondary Targets • People who have influence over the primary targets • Public Targets • Geographic: Neighborhoods, street corridors, schools, business districts • Constituencies: Soccer moms, citizens of low wealth

39. Obtain Stakeholders Commitments • Ask the important questions • Wait for an answer

40. Reach out to Stakeholders • Prioritize based upon the effectiveness of communication. • Face to face • Telephone conversation • Email

41. Identify a Champion

42. Strategy:Who has the power to make the change you seek? • Create a Power Map Primary Targets Secondary Targets Connections to all targets Crosswalk on B St.

43. Step 5: Communicate • Brainstorm ways to use social media • Compose a personal story • Write a letter to the editor • Write your stair speech • Hook • Problem • Solution • Specific actions • Slogan

44. Communicate: Media Tactics • Press Release • Op-ed • Pitch your story to news outlets • Local radio or TV shows • Public Service Announcements • Editorials or Columnists

45. Step 6: Tactics and Timelines • Draft a tactic (to-do list) • Give it a deadline • Identify the lead person Tactic Date Lead Person May 15, 2011 E.g. Identify allies in neighborhood: Your Stakeholders Neighborhood Association President

46. Step 7: Manage Your Resources • Large campaigns can cost money • Your campaign may not require much money • It is important to consider what your expenses may be • Personnel • Professional Expenses • Printing, materials, mailing • Seek in-kind support from stakeholders • Outline possible income the campaign can generate

47. Speaking at Public Meetings

48. Research Protocol • Length of speaking time? • Are you allowed to use media? • Distribute documents?

49. Coordinate Stakeholders • Plan talking points • Plan for potential arguments • Respect the stakeholders efforts

50. Questions and Answers