The Importance of Advocacy:From Your Community to the State Capitol

2008 Citizen Board Member Conference North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association

Greensboro, North CarolinaAugust 7, 2008

Presenter

Barry Ford, Esq.Director of Outreach and Advocacy

United States Tennis Association

• Attorney• Political Candidate

• Public Official• Advocate and Lobbyist

Overview of Presentation

• Define Advocacy• Why Advocacy is important

– What your voice can mean– How you can make your voice heard

• The Focus of Advocacy• Examples of Public Sector Priorities• Why your Park and Recreation Agency Needs

you• Closing and Questions

What is Advocacy?

• Effort• To Convince• Decision-Maker• What you want (Program, Facility,

or Proposal)• Will help them get what they want

What does Citizen Advocacy mean in the Park & Recreation Context?

Passion for

Parks and

Active Public

Spaces

The Needs and

Objectives of Schools, Communities, Colleges, and Local

Public Officials

Sustained Public

Support&

Healthy, Livable

Communities

Park and Recreation Agencies Need Citizen Advocates

• Many government priorities

• Often Park and Recreation Agenda is not view as important as public safety, health, or education

• Park & Recreation agencies:– Embattled– Need Allies– Citizen advocates critical

What Can the Voice the Citizen Board Member Mean?

Support for Park & Recreation Agencies:

• Helps create a healthy community,

• Improves the safety of a community,

• Increases opportunities for youth

• Enhances quality of life for all.

How can you make your voice heard?• Interests and goals of the decision-maker.

• Not Parks and Recreation Activities alone.

• Connect Park and Recreation issues to other issues.

• The Park and Recreation Agenda addresses other problems in your community.

• How does getting you what you want, help the decision-maker?

Public Sector Focus

• This Agenda Primarily Targets Public Sector Decision-Maker+ Government Leaders (Executive and Legislative)

+ Local+ State+ Federal

+ School Administrators and Educators

• But not exclusively so.+ Influential Civic Leaders

Public Priorities that Park and Rec Agencies are Relevant to

• Health+ Obesity+ Chronic illnesses

• Community Development & Public Safety+ Engagement of Youth+ Safety of Seniors+ Security and Opportunity for Families

• Education & Youth Development+ After-School and Physical Education

• Economic Development

Why Your Park & Recreation Agency Needs You• Community support and involvement Key

to success

• Enhances ability to address expressed needs

• Help to make Professional Staff more effective

• Help to build important relationships with key decision-makers

Advocacy Circle

CollegesParks

SchoolsFacilities

•Community-Based

•Youth & Families

•Sustainability•Public Support

A well-run Park & Recreation Agency is an invaluable public resource.

• President• Executive

Agencies• Congress• Judicial

• Governor/Elected Cabinet• State Legislature

• Administrative Agencies • Judiciary Department

• Cities, Counties, Town, Townships, Villages, Special Districts

FEDERAL

STATE

LOCAL

Water Boards,Youth Bureaus,Citizen Advisory Group,School Boards

•Mayors, County Executives, Town Supervisors, City Managers/Town Manager

•City Councils, Town Council,Village Board,Park Boards,

THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

Conclusion

• As Citizen Board members you are:

–Critical supporters

– Important voices

–Connectors

–Advocates