The Public Policy Project

Fall Housing Policy class

Program Description: The “Changing the Face of Housing” Initiative has contracted with The Public Policy Project to conduct housing policy training, especially as it impacts low-wealth and people of color. The program prepares participants to make their voice/views heard through direct participation in advocacy organizations, legislative or rule making institutions, and with various housing related public policy issues.

Time Frame: The program consists of eight evening training sessions (from 6:30-9:30 PM) on Monday nights beginning September 8, 2008 plus a two month long applied practice field work experience and participation in a final follow-up session Monday, January 5, 2009

Location: The Greater Frogtown CDC at 533 North Dale Ave, St Paul, MN 55103.

Session Descriptions

Meeting one: Behind the Public Policy Curtain September 8th 6:30 - 9:30 PM
This session focuses the concept and language of public policy. It will introduce participants to each other and provide an overview of what the public policy process is and does.

Meeting two: Public Policy effects September 15th 6:30 - 9:30 PM
In this session we will examine key housing policies and address how communities of color have been negatively impacted by those policies.

Meeting three: A closer look September 22nd 6:30 - 9:30 PM
In this session will discuss the work neighborhood organizers have worked on in the past, and what critical policy related issues they are working on now.

Meeting four: Principles of Advocacy September 29th 6:30 - 9:30 PM
This session will focus on how to organize an advocacy campaigns around housing issues.

Legislative field trip arranged
We anticipate taking participants on a field trip to directly observe the housing policy-making process by the City of St Paul or the Metropolitan Council.

Meeting five: Tools of Advocacy October 6th 6:30 - 9:30 PM
This session will examine housing coalition partnerships as an advocacy model.

Meeting Six: Lobbying October 13th 6:30 - 9:30 PM
This session will focus on the role of lobbyist (resident, organizational or professional) and relationship to elected officials.

Meeting seven: Public Policy Makers October 20th 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Participants will meet with housing policy decision makers. What types of decisions is each responsible for and what are the impacts of those decisions?

Meeting eight: Issues Selection and Implementation October 27th 6:30 - 9:30 PM
This session participants will identify a critical housing policy issue of their choice to work on collectively.

Two-month field experience
The participants work on their chosen public policy issue.

Follow Up Meeting and Graduation January 5th 6:30-8:00 PM
We will hold a final session with the participants to check on their progress and evaluate the overall success of the fieldwork.

For registration materials contact: James Trice - 612-722-1677