The Public Policy Project

Fall Housing Policy Class

The Housing Policy Training program prepares participants to make their voice/views on housing issues heard through direct participation in non-profit or advocacy organizations and city, county, regional and state legislative institutions.  The program consists of eight evening training sessions on Monday nights  (from 6:30-9:00 PM) beginning September 14, 2009 plus a six-week field work experience and participation in a final session Monday, December 14, 2009

All sessions will be held at the Project for Pride in Living office at the corner of 11^th and Franklin Avenues in Minneapolis, MN. All training sessions are held in barrier free locations.

 You must be at the first session to participate and cannot miss more than two sessions. Participation in the six-week issues campaign is required to complete your training.  A stipend will be paid to successful participants attending the follow-up session.

Participants will be accepted after registration and a recommendation from a nonprofit staff, advocacy professional or prior housing policy  training graduates. Twenty-five participants will be selected on a “first come, first served” basis.  For more information and registration materials, contact Loren Niemi at 651-271-6349 or James Trice at 612-722-1677. Registrations and recommendation must be received by September 11, 2009

Session Descriptions

Meeting one •  Sept 14^th 6:30 - 9:00 PM • Behind the Public Policy Curtain.   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 • Sept 21^st 6:30 - 9:00 PM • Public Policy effect.   In this session we examine key housing policies and address how communities of color have been negatively impacted.

 Meeting three • Sept 28^th 6:30 - 9:00 PM  • A closer look In this session will discuss the work the impact of a specific housing policy and the related issues that are impacting our communities.    

Meeting four • Oct 5^th 6:30 - 9:00 PM • Principles of Advocacy This session will focus on how to organize an advocacy campaigns around housing issues.  Long-time organizers who have a history with housing advocacy will explore ways to recruit participation and energize communities.

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

Meeting five • Oct 12^th 6:30 - 9:00 PM • Tools of Advocacy This session will focus on housing coalitions. How do we respond to different values or approaches? What is our self-interest and what is the common good?

Meeting Six • Oct 19^th 6:30 - 9:00 PM • Lobbying This session will focus on the role of lobbyist (resident, organizational or professional) and relationship to elected officials. What does each do? What rules govern a lobbyist’s work?

Meeting seven • Oct 26^th 6:30 - 9:00 PM • Public Policy Makers Participants will meet with housing policy decision makers. We will focus on areas of responsibility and autonomy within government bodies – the State Legislature, Metropolitan Council, County Commissioners and City Council.

Meeting eight • Nov 2^nd 6:30 - 9:00 PM • Issues Selection and Implementation  This session participants will identify a critical housing policy issue of their choice to work on collectively in their six-week applied practice campaign. What organizations and /or coalitions may already be working on the issue? 

 Six-week Field Experience We will be available to provide technical assistance (phone calls, meetings, networking and resource information sharing) as the participants work on their chosen public policy issue.

Follow Up Meeting and Graduation • Dec 14^th 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. Stipends for participants will be paid at our graduation ceremony.

Spring Housing Training

The “Changing the Face of Housing” Initiative and The Public Policy Project offer the first of our two housing policy training sessions for housing sector staffs, Boards of Directors and tenants; especially low-wealth and people of color. The program consists of eight evening sessions (from 6:30-9:30 PM on Monday nights beginning March 2, 2009, plus an eight week applied practice field work experience and participation in a final follow-up session Monday, June 22, 2009.                                                                                                                        The training sessions will be held at the Jewish Community Action office at 2375 University Avene (just East of University and Raymond) in St. Paul. We take 20 registrations on a first come, first served basis. You must be at the first session to participate and cannot miss more than two sessions. Participation in the eight week applied practice campaign is required to complete your training.   Here is the Training Schedule: Meeting one: Behind the Public Policy Curtain  - March 2^nd 6:30 - 9:30 PM - This session focuses the concept and language of public policy. It introduces participants to each other and provides an overview of what the public policy process is and does.         Meeting two: Public Policy effects - March 9^th 6:30 - 9:30 PM - This session examines key historical housing policies and practices and their effects, especially on low-wealth and communities of color. Meeting three: A closer look - March 16^th 6:30 - 9:30 PM - This session examines the impact of a specific housing policy and the related issues in the Twin Cities.      Meeting four: Principles of Advocacy - March 23rd 6:30 - 9:30 PM - This session focuses on how to organize advocacy campaigns around housing issues.   Legislative field trip - arranged - We take participants to directly observe the housing policy-making process by the City of Minneapolis, St Paul or the Metropolitan Council.  Meeting five: Tools of Advocacy - March 30^th 6:30 - 9:30 PM - This session will focus on how we respond to different values or approaches to advocacy. What is our self-interest and what is the common good? We will examine housing coalition partnerships as an advocacy model.  Meeting Six: Lobbying -  April 6^th 6:30 - 9:30 PM - This session will focus on the role of lobbyist (resident, organizational or professional) and relationship to elected officials. What does each do? What rules govern a lobbyist’s work. Meeting seven: Public Policy Makers - April 13^th 6:30 - 9:30 PM - Participants will meet with decision-makers at the city, county, Met Council and State levels.  Meeting eight: Issues Selection and Implementation - April 20^th 6:30 - 9:30 PM - Participants identify a critical housing policy issue of their choice to work on collectively for the 8 weeks of applied practice.  Two-month field experience - We provide technical assistance as the participants work on their chosen housing policy issue.  Follow Up Meeting and Graduation -  June 22^nd 6:30-8:00 PM - The final session evaluates the success of the fieldwork and provides a graduation ceremony with certificates and a celebratory meal.                                                 For more information or to register call Loren @ 651-271-6349 or James @ 612-722-1677.