Course Syllabus

Social Change Praxis:  Shaping Public Policy

IST 2105 –

 

Meeting Times: 

Friday,January 9 , 2:30 – 5:30

Attend Meeting of the All Families Deserve a Chance (AFDC) Coalition at Mile High United Way

711 Park Ave West, ( Intersection of California and 23^rd St) Denver 80205

Saturday January 17,  1:00 - 4:30 PM at Iliff

Friday, January 30, 1- 4:30 p.m. at Iliff

Saturday, January 31,  9:00 – 4:30 PM at Iliff

 

Instructor:

Chaer Robert,  M.A. Communications

Program Manager

Family Economic Security Program

Colorado Center on Law & Policy

 

crobert@cclponline.org

303-573-5669 x 307

 

Course Description:

 

Most of us would like to change the world for the better in some way. This brief course guides students on how to work for and achieve social change through the political process, with a focus on the Colorado legislative process.

 

Students will supply the issues; the course will focus on the skills, processes and components of a successful legislative effort.  This includes coalition building, research, story collection, talking points, fact sheets & testimony, grass roots & direct lobbying, and social media. The course will include a chance for students to develop and present a group case for legislative proposals around their issues of concern.

 

Many well- meaning individuals and organizations would like to see change, but lack the understanding of how to get the attention and support of lawmakers.  Efforts sometimes succeed accidently, especially with enough passion. But more likely, a person can be discouraged, fueling a belief that government  only works for special interests, not for the average person. A viscous cycle of discouragement feeding disillusionment makes our government less effective.  

 

Learning Objectives:

 

1.  Identify at least 5 ways to engage elected officials and other decision-makers and influencers with your issue.

 

2.  Learn how to develop and work with a broad-based coalition.  Identify at least  5 potential partner organizations  for a coalition on your issue.

 

3.  Identify and strategically address opposition concerns in the eyes of decision-makers.

 

4.  Be able to present a convincing case for change.

 

5.  Identify how to develop long term commitment to the cause and the coalition after disappointment. 

 

 

Course Expectations and Evaluation:

 

In a four day course, your presence and participation is critical, and this constitutes the primary basis for evaluation.    Being able to address the 5 learning objectives above means you have done the work. 

 

Each student should come with an idea of one or two issues that they are most passionate about.  During the class, these will be translated into legislative proposals-- either currently proposed or for the future.  

 

Students will be working with a small group of other students to develop a campaign for selected issues.  While we will attempt to group students based on their issues, some students may need to join a group of an issue which is not their top priority.  This will culminate in presentations to the entire class.

 

Politics is an arena of competing ideas.  Role-playing will include challenges to the cases being presented for realism.   This "inoculation" helps us prepare for anticipated resistance.  The purpose of the class is to learn, try and practice.  Performing  perfectly or impressively is not the expectation. 

 

Agenda

 

Our class time is concentrated into these four days , which occur at the beginning of the 2015 Colorado Legislative Session.  I encourage you to consider one or more of the activities listed under preparatory resources to round out our classroom experience during and following our class .

I have also listed some legislative related resources which you may review prior to the class.

 

Friday, January 9—

 

2:30 – 4:30 Attend AFDC Coalition meeting at Mile High United Way-711 Park Ave West.

                Students will observe an advocacy coalition in action. The All Families Deserve a Chance Coalition works on issues related to people living in poverty in Colorado. It will provide students a glimpse of how coalitions operate and the range of advocacy issues under consideration.

 

4:30 – 5:30 Students remain following the meeting for introductions and class overview.

 

Saturday, January 17

 

1:00  Students share an issue of concern to them

 

1:45  Translating concerns into legislative proposals.  Pinpointing at what level a decision in made.

                How a bill become a law-legislative process                                                        

               

2:30 - 2:45 Break

 

2:45 - 3:00 Division into groups based on issues of concern

 

3:00 -- 3:45  Presentation of Advocacy Checklist

 

3:45 --4:30   Work in Small Groups deciding on a Proposed change in the law

 

                Groups will want to divide up tasks, assigning individuals certain items on the checklist. 

 Individuals will then have a week to develop their role in the advocacy effort , and do any essential research.

 

Friday, January 30

 

1:00 – 4:30  Work in small groups to organize and develop their issue campaign and presentation/testimony for the mock legislative hearings on Saturday. In particular, each group

Should :

 

-develop a bill fact sheet on their issue

-develop a line-up of witnesses for the legislative hearing

-prepare to answer possible questions by “legislators” as well as to respond to opposing witnesses

-consider whether they think they need other outreach and mobilization, traditional and social media campaigns, identify reports or develop issue briefs to support their proposal.

 

Once each group has clarified what they will be proposing, they will meet with the instructor who will develop a cost estimate --a mock “fiscal note”.  At least one witness should be prepared to address the proposed cost, and argue that any cost is worth it.

 

Saturday, January 31

 

This day is devoted to roleplaying a mock legislative hearing.  Each group will present their proposal, while the other groups roleplay legislators and opposing witnesses. The instructor will play the Committee chair.

 

9:00 -  Small group meets to finalize campaign/ presentation

 

10:00  - Presentations begin -- First Group

 

10:30 -  Debrief

 

10:50 - Break

 

11:05  - Presentations  -- Second Group

 

11:35  - Debrief

 

11:50 - 12: 20  Lunch  ( Please bring Brown Bag); Casual conversation

 

12:20 -- Presentations -  Third Group

 

12:50  -- Debrief

 

1:05 -- Presentation  - Fourth Group

 

1:35 -- Debrief

 

1:50  -- Break

 

2:05 -- Discussion of how each effort could  be strengthened with additional time and efforts.

            Q & A and discussion

 

3:00  -- Break

 

3:15 --  How to transition from the classroom experience to being involved with the issue in the real                       world.

            How to find information on legislative proposals

            Using the State Legislature's website for critical information

 

           Students discuss their planned next steps into advocacy.

 

4:15 -- Evaluation

 

4:30  -- Close

 

Class Text:

 

 Book:  "Take Back Your Government:  A Citizen's Guide to Grassroots  Change" by Colorado State Senator Morgan Carroll, Fulcrum Publishing, 2011.  This users guide to advocacy and the legislature can serve as a reference as students plan and develop the issue campaign.

 

 

Recommended Resources

 

1. Peruse the Colorado State Legislature's Website:

 

www.leg.state.co.us

 

Attend or listen online to a legislative hearing prior to May 8 ( Last day of session).    For a schedule and site of bill hearings, click on House Calendar or Senate Calendar.  Hearings take place in the committee room noted in the Calendar. Most are in the State Capitol Building on Colfax and Sherman, others are across the street on 14th and Sherman in the Legislative Service Building.  Or click on "listen to the Legislature"  then the Committee room at the publishes time.

 

2.  Twitter:  Check into the conversation about the Colorado Legislature from time to time at:  #coleg

 

3..  Attend a legislation related information session or advocacy group meeting:

 

For example:

 

a. Colorado Social Legislation Committee holds free brown bag briefings on legislative topics Mondays noon - 1:15 during legislative session -- go to www.cslc.org for info or follow @cslcnews

 

b. All Families Deserve a Chance Coalition - Anti poverty coalition meets second Friday 2:30 - 4:30 p.m at Mile High United Way – 711 Park Ave West

 

c. Women's Lobby Issues Committee meets the first and third Wednesdays during legislative session

at 1500 Grant St (CEA) - Bluebell room. Twitter = @CO-Women

 

You can email me to get other suggestions, or to confirm.

 

5. View a sample bill list:

 

For example one by the Women's Lobby of Colorado:

www.coloradowomenslobby.org/state-legislature

 

6. View sample bill fact sheets:

 

View some at

 

www.cslc.org

 - click on legislation tab

or

www.cclponline.org , specifically http://cclponline.org/our-work/advocacy/economic-opportunity-poverty-reduction-task-force/