The Arc California’s Strategic Plan for Community Organizing June 22, 2013 The Arc California 1225 8th Street, Suite 350 Sacramento, CA 95814 Purpose Statement for the Community Organizing Initiative: The purpose of The Arc of California’s Community Organizing Initiative is to build a powerful organized community that shapes state policy to guarantee the human and civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Customer Analysis for our Community Organizing Initiative: Do we know who they are and do we know what they really want? The Arc needs to focus and utilize participation from any individual or chapter which wishes to engage with the community organizing initiative. They will be trained to think about themselves as agents of change (transformational), thus becoming participants instead of clients, advocating for what is rightfully theirs and not passively accepting what the state is willing to give! We will observe how The Arc of the United States is organizing and training to exert influence on federal public policy through their national Director of Chapter Organizing and Advocacy. We will replicate their deliberative approach at the state level. Finally while we are committed to broadening our participation, we acknowledge building consensus for action in a large and diverse state like ours can be challenging. Action may in fact be the method to achieve a broader consensus. Customer Analysis: Identifying the Statewide Core Leaders, Regional Organizers, and Local Chapter and Community Leaders. We will solicit individuals who are committed to this initiative and willing to be visionary Statewide Core Leaders: 1. CCE Members 2. Chapter Presidents 3. Board Representatives 4. Parents 5. Consumers/Self-advocates Regional Organizers and Organizations will be identified who have bought into the vision and will achieve the required results for success: 1. Community organizing groups from within the developmental disability community (e.g. United Cerebral Palsy, Autism Speaks) 2. Community organizing groups from other disability communities (e.g. CFILC, Mental Health) 3. Community organizing groups from outside the disability community (e.g. Health, Housing, Transit, Justice, Labor) 4. Individuals from The Arc of California network who are not members of the Core Leadership team Local Chapter and Community Leaders will be identified who will be trained to support and participate in the successful implementation of the community organizing initiative. Regular and Embedded Trainings: 1) Develop training models to fit the needs of Self Advocates (their physical stamina, 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) physical limitations, intellectual disabilities, etc.) Develop training models geared to the needs of the Family Members Training acknowledges the VALUE of the person being trained (Client, Family, Friends, and Staff) Training gives them recognition and increases their cognitive awareness in giving them purpose Cross training everyone to do the actions, interviews and deliver the message Trainings will be conducted in three regions a. Northern California (Sacramento Area/ Bay Area, Merced/King City) b. Central California (Bakersfield/Fresno, Paso Robles/Madera) c. Southern California (Los Angeles/San Diego, Santa Barbara/Ventura, Valencia/Riverside) Significant Milestones for the Community Organizing Initiative Year 1 Calendar a series of synchronized legislative forums and events throughout the state that generate ‘meetings with’ and ‘letters to’ policymakers, action on statewide issues, action on local issues, support for our lawsuit, increased voter registration, and lead to follow-up meetings Follow-up meetings (from the synchronized forums) that become theme forums cutting issues into a couple winnable actions “Actions are the oxygen to organizing” - complete at least 3 local actions and 1 state action. Create a working plan to teach cutting issues to action and base building through 1:1 meetings National training - Create a special selection process for sending people to national training (we want to send 10 advocates) On-line 1 day training that is specific to our community organizing issue Year 2 Continue trainings and reach 100 people annually Hire a full-time organizer for our region Advance team training (at least 1 team), training for an established group that is already committed to a local action Year 3 Hire a full team of organizers (3 locals and 1 state coordinator) Train the trainer’s workshop to achieve having 10 trainers Achieve full attendance for national week long training (20 advocates) Whatever has not been accomplished from previous years Action Plans: Details for the desired milestones including plans for resources for actions not already provided. Action Plans YEAR ONE Calendar a series of synchronized forums and events throughout the state that generate letters to policymakers, voter registrations, and lead to follow-up meetings and actions. What Identify 3 regions where advocates can build forums to highlight the current state of the DD System, local issues, have round table letter writing sessions, and voter registration. When March 2013 Bakersfield/Kern County Training by Gamaliel Team Fall or Winter 2013 San Diego training at the CA Supported Living Network’s conference, with emphasis on self advocates; recruit self advocates for training at People First Conference April 2013 June 2013 Issue Development – comes out of the synced events and the CSLN conference Follow-up meetings (from the synchronized forums) that become theme forums cutting issues into a couple winnable actions. What Write a survey monkey assessment survey for the synced forums and events participation When September 2013 Follow-up with those in attendance at the synced forums through the survey Dec. 2013 Schedule and hold follow-up meetings and open the forum up by discussing survey themes, open discussion on community concerns, and break it down to winnable actions. Dec. 2013 Complete at least 3 local and 1 state actions and create a working plan to teach cutting issues to action and base building through 1:1 meetings What When Organize a presence in person and on-line for lawsuit court hearings, public policy hearings, local issues, and national legislation creating maximum participation from our community Spring, Summer, and Fall 2013 Carry out other winnable actions identified from each follow-up forum Identify the leaders for actions (should come from those already trained in national leadership, PIP graduates, other known advocates, especially self advocates and family members August 2013 Organize training in Sacramento May 2013 1:1 follow ups Prepare for celebration of victory and next steps simultaneously Statewide special election turnout the vote YEAR ONE and TWO National training (we want to send 10 advocates) and Local Trainings What 1 week training in the Sacramento area When November 2013 Strategic planning committee to establish criteria and the selection process May 2013 Local trainings in Northern, Central and Southern California, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, San Jose, Solano, Stockton, Napa, Placer County, Butte County, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and San Diego Spring, Summer and Fall, Winter 2013 Design 1 or 1/2 day trainings to raise interest and to earn money to off- set participant cost at national training Summer 2013 Develop a work plan in the training May 2013 2014 Create an on-line resource based on the 1 or ½ day training that is specific to our community organizing issue What Video tape leadership training When May 2014 Do the training in the Sacramento Area May 2014 Marketing for the resource April 2014 Create a course similar to College of Direct Support July 2014 Continue the training to reach 100 people annually What Ask for referrals at each training When On-going Keep building database of interested advocates On-going Book Greg Galluzzo, Mary Gonzales, and other Gamaliel Lead Organizers for the trainings 2013 September, October, November, December 2014 Promote directly to the Partners in Policymaking graduates and students Work on grants and fundraising to develop financial sustainability June – Dec. 2013 Advance team training (at least 1 team), training for an established group that is already committed to a local action What When Identify potential teams and define qualifications 1 to ½ day training will identify interested teams May 2013 and 2014 Organize private training where needed Send the team to the training and follow up November 2013 $ - teams will have to fund their own participation Hire a full time organizer What Develop a feasibility proposal for funding a full time organizer highlighting 4 options: (1) State centered (2) local centered (3) contract out (4) just wait for a grant source When June 2013 Grant funding to ignite the project, solicit funding from chapters and individuals, establish a contributor list June – Dec 2013 Job description, splitting time in the region July 2013 Use Mary’s contacts to search for organizers Regional areas will commit to 1 collective fundraiser State office will promote regional efforts State office will provide organizers with relevant policy issues impacting the local constituents Summer 2013 YEAR 0NE to THREE Hire a full team of organizers (3 locals and 1 state coordinator) What Complete a procedural resource for what’s working for us in organizing and how to replicate and what to watch out for. When 2014 Year two results will dictate next steps for hiring a full team Train the trainer’s workshop to achieve having 10 trainers What Identify those with interest and talent willing to practice the concepts of community organizing When Sept. 2013, 2014 and 2015 Create a team to train for stage one: (1) Trainers for 1:1 (2) Trainers for Effective Meetings, (3) Trainers for Issues and Actions Create a team to train for stage two: (1) Self-Interest, (2) Agitation, (3) Path to Power Shadow Greg & Mary in their trainings Achieve full attendance for annual national week long training (100 advocates) Strategic Plan Committee: Dwight Stratton, President, The Arc California (San Diego Chapter) Dick Fitzmaurice, Vice President The Arc California (Alameda County Chapter) Peter Bowers, Treasurer The Arc California (Contra Costa Chapter) Jim Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc Bakersfield BARC Ron Luter, Executive Director, The Arc of Alameda County Barbara Guenther, Executive Director, The Arc Placer County Connie Uychutin, Executive Director, The Arc San Joaquin Greg Galluzzo & Mary Gonzales Gamaliel Foundation Staff: Tony Anderson, Executive Director Tim Hornbecker, Director of Community Organizing and Advocacy Gwen Lopez, Executive Assistant