The Crossroads of Politics and Policy:
How to Advocate Without Getting Run Over
An important part of a healthy democracy is effective advocacy, yet community voices often hesitate to act on issues requiring expertise in the public policy debate. Nonprofit organizations have both the right and the responsibility to advocate on behalf of their causes, organizations, and the people they serve. Because laws and customs restrain nonprofit organizations from full engagement in the traditional political arena, many nonprofits believe that they cannot engage in any public advocacy efforts to advance their ideas and agendas. That is not the case.

Some nonprofit professionals who know that they can advocate are still reluctant to do so because they do not want to jeopardize their organization’s status by taking a chance and creating misperceptions about their advocating activity. There are safe ways to advocate. This seminar will educate nonprofit executives and volunteers about techniques for effective advocacy. The presentation will focus on the “rules of the road” for how to work with public officials, their staff members, the media and community supporters.

You will learn:

• The do’s and don’ts of effective advocacy and the difference between lobbying vs. advocacy
• Key strategies for positively engaging elected officials and their staff members
• How non-partisan and bi-partisan engagement work in compliment
• How Tallahassee really works – impacting the executive and legislative branches
• Structuring a strategic communications plan to target community opinion leaders
• Recruiting and motivating constituents for effective grassroots outreach
• Media skills for communicating with community leaders to tell stories of accomplishment
• The value of giving voice to recipients of service, volunteers, and family members

Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Time: 9:00 a.m. - Noon

Tuition: $60 Members, $110 Nonmembers

Instructor: Jack Levine, Founder of 4Generations Institute and President of Advocacy Resources, a Tallahassee-based consultancy.

Jack Levine, founder of 4Generations Institute, is a communications and public policy consultant. Jack’s expertise is in developing and delivering messages to the media, public officials, and a diverse network of advocates on the value of preventive investments in children, parent leadership, grandparent activism, and dignified services for elders. Jack served as President of Voices for Florida's Children for 25-years. Through public speaking, seminar and workshop leadership, and an array of community advocacy events, Jack shares information, provides inspiration, and leverages advocate enthusiasm in the direction of public policy action. Jack holds a Master’s degree in Child Development and Family Studies from Purdue University, and a degree in English Literature from Hunter College, City University of New York.

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