Getting Started
It’s important to be proactive rather than reactive; the sooner you can be involved in the policy process, the better. You don’t want to wait until the news hits the media. Oftentimes, it’ll be too late to effectively take action. You want to be at the table when the policies are being discussed or even be quoted in the news story where they’re being announced.
Identify What Matters to You
Find an issue that is impacting you and begin educating yourself. Start with research. Google searches are easy but there is nothing more powerful than directly connecting with people who are actual stakeholders. Consider getting your friends, neighbors, or community group together for some “research meetings” with people and organizations that likely have knowledge of an issue.
In a place as big as Los Angeles, there are usually people working on the issue you care about who also share your values. Do your best to find them and try to collaborate!
If you’re looking for a community to support and motivate you, you’re always welcome at LA Forward. That’s why we’re here. We also provide a platform for you to connect with bigger coalitions beyond just receiving action alerts. You can sign up at LAForward.org
Working Together
When doing research it’s important to remember to do your best listening, learning, and supporting the people most impacted by an issue, especially if you are coming from a place of privilege. Avoid the temptation to work in silo and devise your own policy solution, without engaging the community at large.
Building on each other's strengths is key. Make sure the people you are working with have expertise in areas you don’t. This is also an effective way of doing advocacy because a coalition of people can divide up labor more efficiently and effectively than if you are doing work by yourself.
A typical advocacy coalition will have several of the following roles: people focused on tracking bills as they move through the legislative process, others building relationships with supportive elected officials, and many more developing policy and legal strategy, leading communications, organizing with impacted communities, and generating support from constituents of key decision-makers.
“People should join an organization. Now is not the time to try to do some of the hardest work of changing systems on your own. It’s not possible. What is possible is joining together and being organized. It might be a formal organization that you join or it might be something small or might start something on your own. Be in community. We really need each other right now.”
-Patrisse Cullors Founder of Black Lives Matter and a life-long Angeleno
Join Local Coalitions
We encourage you to follow some of the bigger coalitions by signing up for email newsletters and liking them on social media. They’ll tip you off to key moments for taking action.
LA Street Vendor Campaign // ACT-LA // STAND LA // DA Accountability Coalition // Reimagine LA // Justice LA // Housing Now // Right to Counsel
If you’re looking for a community to support and motivate you, you’re always welcome at LA Forward. That’s why we’re here. We also provide a platform for you to connect with bigger coalitions beyond just receiving action alerts. You can sign up at LAForward.org
Keep reading to learn about what motivates policymakers and gets them to act.