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Advocacy and Organizing

Definition:

1. Explanation of the goal:

Grassroots advocacy is having a large number of people working on the same issues. These include changes in laws or policies, increases in funding, etc.

In Community Organizing, groups of people come together on a local level to develop strategies and support each other's work. The goals of Community Organizing are:

1. To win real improvement in people's lives
2. To give advocates a sense of their own power
3. To change the actual balance of power

2. The change we want to see:

People with disabilities and family members will be effective advocates for systems change through participation in the DAWN advocacy network.

3. How we will know the change happened:

The Council will monitor the numbers of people from the disability community who are active in advocacy. Information can be obtained from a legislative contact tracking system, people active in the DAWN email network, and other ways.

4. What we’ll do to get there:

This part of the Plan has five objectives or activities designed to meet this goal:

1. By September 2008, 10 people with disabilities and family members will be community organizers, providing training and support to grassroots groups working on local issues.
2. By September 2011, 50 local coalitions will identify issues important to them and develop strategies for systems change.
3. By September 2011, 500 people with DD will participate in People First-WI chapters, working on issues of their choice.
4. By September 2011, 2,000 people with disabilities and family members will be active in advocacy.
5. By September 2011, 5,000 people with disabilities and family members will become consistent voters.

5. Progress to date (as of April 2008):

Objective 1:

1. Two apprentices completed apprenticeship and one accepted full-time position as an organizer. They have assisted 9 local groups with advocacy projects.
2. Five more apprentices have been completed training as of May ’08. They are available to assist local groups with advocacy projects.

Objective 2:

1. DAWN grants awarded to 20 grassroots groups statewide in January ‘07.
2. Building Connections in Special Ed retreat held.
3. 273 people have been active in advocacy efforts within DAWN grant projects. 7 are continuing their efforts. Due to these efforts, 3 policy changes were made.
4. 18 DAWN grassroots grants awarded in January ’08. Four of these grants are working in minority communities.

Objective 3:

1. Nine local People First chapters have developed local advocacy plans.
2. People First WI is partnering to work on Self-Determination and advocacy for DD Act.

Objective 4:

1. As of April ‘08 302 people are using the “Take Action” system to send advocacy messages to legislators.
2. Board staff meets with members of the African American and Hmong communities in Milwaukee to increase advocacy efforts.

Objective 5:

1. Voter database has approximately 25,000 names from the disability community.
2. 27 organizations are members of the state disability vote coalition as of April ’08.
3. Voting Guide has been updated and distributed. Also printed in Spanish and Hmong.
4. Participant of national Disability Vote Alliance (DVA).
5. Provided testimony to Joint Audit Committee and Gov’t. Accountability Board (GAB) on polling place accessibility in January ’08.
6. Working with GAB staff to develop a new polling place accessibility survey.
7. Held a teleconference for coalition members on 3-11-08.
8. Presented a voting workshop at a national seminar in March ’08.
9. Increased voting by 10% of a targeted audience in spring ’07 election.

6. Resources:

7. Events: