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Advocacy Groups: A Case Study of Glendale

Ruben Hovanesian June 27, 2012. Advocacy Groups: A Case Study of Glendale. Poll. Public Agencies? Private Agencies?. Overview. What makes them successful & powerful How to develop an effective & healthy relationship A case study in Glendale. What it is. What is an Advocacy Group?.

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Advocacy Groups: A Case Study of Glendale

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  1. Ruben Hovanesian June 27, 2012 Advocacy Groups: A Case Study of Glendale

  2. Poll • Public Agencies? • Private Agencies?

  3. Overview • What makes them successful & powerful • How to develop an effective & healthy relationship • A case study in Glendale

  4. What it is

  5. What is an Advocacy Group? • A group of people who (attempt to) influence public opinion/policy • Bicycle Coalitions • Safety Advocates • Health Advocates • High Speed Rail Supporters

  6. Why They Exist

  7. Why They Form • There is a need that hasn’t been met with expected satisfaction • There is interest • There is an opportunity

  8. Identifying the Need • The advocacy group’s Vision and Mission

  9. The Interest • Citizens who want that need to be met • Minority or Majority • Controversial or Acceptable • Find it beneficial • For a minority or a majority • Can be in support, or against

  10. The Opportunity • Gathering of interested community members • Grant availability • Significant project to affect that need • Positively or negatively • Expansion of larger advocacy group • New Policy

  11. Walk Bike Glendale: The Need • Lack of bicycle infrastructure

  12. Walk Bike Glendale: Vision • Vision • Glendale is a city where everyone feels safe to walk and bike

  13. Walk Bike Glendale: Mission • Mission • We advocate for vibrant and safer places to walk and bike, promote walking and bicycling as fun and sustainable alternatives to driving, educate to increase safety on our streets, and inspire the community to get involved and make a difference

  14. Walk Bike Glendale: The Opportunity • New City policy to have an advisory committee on bicycling • Passing of “Safe and Healthy Streets” Plan • Gathering of interested community members

  15. How They Form

  16. How They Form • Consistent meetings to discuss same issues • Official recognition • Chapter of parent organization • New non-profit

  17. Who Participates • Students • Young Professionals • Including Engineers and Lawyers • Hobbyists • Community Members

  18. Why They’re Strong

  19. Politics • Strength in votes • Politics have strong control over engineering projects • Actually happens or not • Politicians want/need votes • Need support from community

  20. How it Affects the Private Sector • Clients are generally Public agencies • Politics don’t directly affect Consultant Firms • Clients are affected though • Clients control the money • Clients get what they want

  21. How to Develop a Good Relationship

  22. Listen • Listen • They don’t have any authority • But they do have the public’s attention • Voting public • They can get the public agencies attention • Through politics

  23. Respond • Provide a response • Official or unofficial • That simple

  24. What You Can Gain

  25. Financial Support • Grants • Some require engagement of the community • Advocacy groups have a strong voice in a community • Partnerships • Advocacy group donates for specific projects

  26. Knowledge • Knowledgeable and experienced as users • Consulting and Advice • Not everything works with minimums • Community needs • Constant contact

  27. Support • New yet beneficial projects • Difficult to pass in City Councils • Can offer political support • Especially where engineers can’t make recommendations

  28. In Glendale, CA

  29. Road Diets

  30. A While Back • Proposed road diet • Near Community College • Major North-South Connector • Near riots • Death threats to politicians

  31. Currently • Proposed Test Road Diet • Near shopping park • Leads into/from existing section of traffic calming implementation • Major East-West connector • Very likely to succeed

  32. The Difference • Walk Bike Glendale • Advocacy group for walking and biking in the city

  33. Reason For Success • More knowledgeable and experienced with the specific project needs as users • Larger outreach effort • Proper use of social media • Better response to protests

  34. Reason For Success • More support from community recognized • Result of outreach efforts • Active Communication between City officials and Advocacy leaders

  35. Measure They’re Success

  36. Evaluating Advocacy Groups • Incremental efforts “satisfy politicians that they have dealt with a problem while exhausting the capacity of grassroots advocates to keep pushing forward” • Rather than focus on a specific strategy to achieve a policy goal, “nimbly and creatively” react to unanticipated challenges or opportunities

  37. Thank you!

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