Advocating for Positive Change
Advocating for My Neighborhood: The Basics
Neighborhood Associations in Portland have a special relationship with the City. This system gives residents the ability to provide input into what their community looks like-- it's an inside track to elected officials and decision-makers. However, it's still a lot of work to get neighbors voices heard.
Communication is a key component to successful advocacy. You must be able to express your concerns, update community members and develop flexible strategies. Be respectful, but persistent. Know what officials can base their decisions on. Follow procedures, whether you're providing written responses or oral testimony. And always watch for deadlines because many procedures are very strict about when they allow public comments. Be involved as early as possible.
In addition to getting your point across, you need to show a broad level of support for your issue. This diversity could be the types of people supporting your cause, the number of neighborhoods banding together, or the many organizations within your coalition. If you can demonstrate diverse support, you are more likely to have the information needed in negotiations, you are more likely to be heard, and you are more likely to be successful!
Spotlight: Buckman Community Association
Buckman has had many advocacy projects come down the pipeline. Neighborhood leaders have been advocating for an inner southeast community center at the former Washington-Monroe High School, accomplishing incremental successes over the past few years. They fought against using the Memorial Coliseum as a super athletics center, joined other groups to stop the development of a big box retail site and addressed many other land use issues. Neighbors also worked together to persuade Portland Parks and Recreation to keep the Buckman pool open.
How did they do it? By using diverse advocacy strategies. Neighborhoods need to use many different strategies to obtain this much success. Of course, they attended city council meetings, conducted multiple letter and e-mail campaigns, created coalitions and signed petitions. They also started a phone tree at Buckman school and built a new web site to save the pool, www.buckmanu.org/savethepool.
When asked for advice, an advocate from Buckman Community Association indicated persistence, stubbornness and the ability to approach the problem from all angles was key to her success. She also indicated that information is vital. Be prepared to use the information you gather when the need arises.
Advocating Step-by-Step
Step 1: Educate Leaders & the Neighborhood
- Know the issues and build a cogent case.
- Provide efficient updates utilizing your strengths (newsletters, websites, emails, phone tree, etc.).
Step 2: Develop Coalitions
- There's strength in numbers.
- Other neighborhoods may have the same concerns, especially if they are nearby.
- Look outside the neighborhood system for groups working on similar issues.
Step 3: Demonstrate Community Support
- Use the method most feasible for your neighborhood.
- Watch for deadlines to community input.
- Gather neighbors opinions with a survey.
- Start an e-mail/letter writing campaign.
- Send letters to the editor.
- Create a petition and have it signed.
- Attend City Council meetings in mass.
Step 4: Contact Elected Officials & Staff
- Work with staff when the opportunity arises because you can influence their recommendations.
- Know who the decision makers are and how they make their decisions.
- Personal visits go a long way.
- Invite them to neighborhood events or to speak at your neighborhood meeting.
Step 5: Utilize the Media
- Be respectful and concise.
- Utilize many avenues including public radio, community newspapers, and neighborhood newsletters
Step 6: Utilize the Neighborhood System
- Neighborhoods recognized by the City have the responsibility to advocate about issues that affect the livability and quality of their community. Participate in your neighborhood and speak out!
Digging Deeper: Additional Resources
Books & Websites
The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide, 2nd Edition
Author: Bob Smucker, Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, www.clpi.org/toc.html
A Citizen's Directory of Elected Officials
League of Women Voters, www.lwvpdx.org
Trainings
Free: ABCs of Land Use Office of Neighborhood Involvement
Institute for Nonprofit Management, PSU
For details: (503) 725-8221 or inpm [at] pdx [dot] edu
Keep updated, comment & ask questions at:
www.portlandonline.com/communitybudget