The Public Policy Project

Northway Community Trust/TPPP Community and Advocacy Leadership Training

North Minneapolis Community and Advocacy Leadership Training 2011

Program Description:   The program prepares north Minneapolis residents to be proactive and make their voice/views on issues that affect them heard through direct organized action, to advocate for themselves in city, county, regional and state legislative decisions and build a powerful collective force of new leaders. 

 Times:  The program consists of twelve evening training sessions (from 6:00-9:00 PM)Tuesday nights beginning January 4, 2011 plus a twelve-week field work experience and participation in a final session Tuesday May 31^st 2011

Location:  Training sessions will be held at the Minneapolis Urban League - 2100 Plymouth Avenue North (corner of Plymouth and Penn avenues north) in Minneapolis.

Accommodations:  All training sessions are held in barrier free locations. Food will be provided at each session.

Requirements:  You must be at the first session to participate and can only miss one session. Participation in the twelve-week issues campaign is required to complete your training.  A stipend will be paid to successful participants completing the training, fieldwork and follow-up session.

Selection Process:  ONLY completed registration accompanied by a recommendation from a nonprofit staff, advocacy professional or prior training graduates will be considered for participation. ALL registrations MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE TO BE CONSIDERED. Twenty-five participants will be selected on a “first come, first served” basis.

Registration:  Your registration and recommendation must be received by December 20^th 2010

• You may e-mail registration to James at James_PublicPolicyProject@msn.com.

• You can also mail it to The Public Policy Project 2533 14^th Avenue South Minneapolis MN, 55404

• Wesley Walker Northway Community Trust 1200 W Broadway Suite 210 Minneapolis, MN 55411

Contact:  James Trice at 612-722-1677 or  James_PublicPolicyProject@msn.com

Northway Community Trust/TPPP Training Session Description Winter 2011

Meeting One: Poverty

Tuesday, January 4^th 6:00-9:00 PM

Introduce participants to each other and provide an overview of the Training process. Discussion of what it means to be poor and how being poor has affected/is affecting your life.

Meeting Two: Who we are?

Tuesday January 11^th 6:00-9:00 PM

Participants will talk about themselves, how they view themselves and what they are willing to do to address issues that affect them. Participants will talk about the gifts, talents and abilities they have to address issues. Participants will also discuss forming a north MPLS grassroots-organizing group.

Meeting Three: History and Trends

Tuesday, January 18^th 6:00-9:00 PM

We examine the history of the north Minneapolis community and the specific assets, opportunities, challenges, and deficits in the community. Selected presenters speak to the question of which trends and which “actors” will shape the community’s future? When someone says “north Minneapolis” where, what and who are they talking about?

Meeting Four: Race

Tuesday, January 25^th 6:00-9:00 PM

View “Race: The Power of an Illusion” and discuss our experience of race, racism, discrimination, inequities and disparities.

Meeting Five: Poverty & Race

Tuesday, February 1^st 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Discussion of the intimate relationship of poverty and race: history, demographics and status.

Meeting Six: Organizing I Basic Principles

Tuesday, February 8^th 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Organizing, the basic principles and approaches - including an analysis of power (self power and collective power).

Meeting Seven: Organizing I Basic Principles

Tuesday, February 15^th 6:00-9:00 PM

Focus on building a grassroots community organizing campaign and the benefits and challenges of working in coalitions. We will also examine the techniques of message framing & re-framing and talk about the use of “one on ones.”

Meeting Eight: Organizing III Practice Makes Perfect

Tuesday, February 22^nd 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Participants will do a series of role-plays with each other using various methods and styles of organizing. Participants will assess the effectiveness of different styles of organizing to address various issues.

Meeting Nine: LIFT and Ladders out of Poverty

Tuesday, March 1^st 6:00-9:00 PM

Participants will talk with members of LIFT about what LIFT is working on now, its origin, mission and purpose. Participants will also talk about the history and purpose of Minnesota’s  “Ladders out of poverty” effort; what has it accomplished, what it is working on now, how can low-wealth and people of color engage the work.

Meeting Ten: Elected Officials

Tuesday, March 8^th 6:00-9:00 PM

Participants will meet with local elected officials to discuss the roles they play and the decision making power they have to address poverty.

Meeting Eleven: Managing Conflict

Tuesday, March 15^th 6:00 – 9:00PM

In this session the presenters focus on how we can effectively deal with conflict within organizations, between organizations and with the larger power structures and still get the work done. Participants will assess and increase their conflict management capacity.

Meeting Twelve: Planning for “Applied Practice” Field Work

Tuesday, March 22^nd 6:00-9:00 PM

Participants will identify a critical public policy decision on poverty to work on collectively in their eleven-week applied practice campaign.

Eleven-week Field Experience:

TPPP 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. Participants will decide how often to meet, times and location of meetings, how they will work together (who will do what?) and what they want to accomplish in the time they have.

Follow Up Session 

Tuesday, May 31st 6:00-9:00 PM (date may change depending upon work accomplished)

Participants meet to review the campaign, evaluate the training experience and participate in a graduation ceremony.

 Click here: Northway Community Trust/TPPP Community and Advocacy Leadership Training Registration

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 James @ 612-722-1677.

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

New Poverty Advocacy Training for north Minneapolis Residents

Who & What: Northway Community Trust in conjunction with The Public Policy Project is offering an eight month long Northside Poverty Advocacy Training for low-income RESIDENTS of north Minneapolis who live within these boundaries: 54th Street on the North, the Mississippi River on the East, Highway 394 on the South, and Xerxes Ave on the West.

Time Frame: Eight months of twice a month evening training sessions on Thursdays nights from 6:30-9:30 PM beginning July 17, 2008 leading to a “Day-on-the- Hill”
legislative advocacy campaign in February 2009.

Location: Training sessions will be held at the Northway Community Trust office 1501 W. Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411.

Registration: Space is limited! Twenty-five (25) registrations will be accepted and must be received by July 11, 2008. E-mail registrations to James (james_thepublcipolicyproject@msn.com) or mail/drop it off at it at the Northway Community Trust 1501 W. Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411.

Selection Process: Participants will be accepted based upon an interview with the Public Policy Project staff. Interviews will be held on July 9, 10, and 11. Registrants will be notified of interview times. Participation will be limited to 25 individuals — so early registration is encouraged.

LISC Housing Policy Alumni

Alumni graduates of the LISC/The Public Policy Project Housing Policy Training are cordially invited to attend the alumni reunion of all the LISC Housing Policy Training graduates.

Come share with your fellow alumni what you have been working on and hear what others are doing or have done since graduating. It will be a chance to meet one another and to share common interests and issues.

We also want to identify two or three key issues that alumni can work together on in a short (5 month) campaign with technical support from The Public Policy Project.

Choose one of two dates and the location that works best for you and please RSVP by
Wednesday, May 28th
by phone James (612) 722-1677
or e-mail (James_PublicPolicyProject@msn.com)

Date: Monday June 2, 2008
Place: The Minneapolis Urban League
2100 Plymouth Ave, north
Minneapolis, MN
Time: 6:00 pm till 8:00 pm
Or
Date: Thursday June 5, 2008
Place: Community Action Partnership (Bigelow Building)
450 Syndicate Street North
St. Paul, MN
Time: 6:00 pm till 8:00 pm

We look forward to seeing you there!

Legislative Work…..

Hello all, James Trice here,

In February 2008, The Public Policy Project was hired to work with a coalition of north Minneapolis organizations to address critical issues impacting residents and community stakeholders by engaging state legislators and influencing policy during the 2008 legislative session and beyond. 

The Northside Policy Action Coalition (N-PAC) includes the Peace Foundation, Minneapolis Urban League, Northway Community Trust and West Broadway Coalition, each of whom also work in partnership with organizations from other parts of the city and state. 

The coalition’s policy agenda includes recognization of youth violence as a public health issue, mortgage foreclosure prevention legislation, re-integrating ex-offenders into the community, and increasing economic development resources for north Minneapolis.  As the lobbyist of record, The Public Policy Project’s focus at the legislature  is working with key legislators to support or oppose existing legislation consistent with the coalition’s policy agenda, provide critical information to coalition members, and to build the north Minneapolis presence in the policy making process.

Because the 2008 legislative session is on the bonding year portion of Minnesota’s two year legislative cycle the primary outcome of our work this session will be to establish a strong, active coalition presence at the legislature and to lay the foundation for moving the agenda items forward in the 2009 budget session.

The Public Policy Project also provided “Day on the Hill” training and campaign management which brought over 90 north Minneapolis youth to the capitol to tell legislators what it means to live with gun violence and the death of family, friends and classmates.

The Public Policy Project contracted Donna Evens, an African American woman who has been through two of our Public Policy trainings (CAP Fellows and the LISC Housing Policy Training) and had experience lobbying the Legislative Commission to End Poverty 2020 to assist us in this lobbying effort.