Livable Streets Advocacy Training
Robert Johnson
Our Mission
The unified voice for active living, promoting a
healthy, safe and accessible outdoor experience for
all in a vibrant, engaged community.
What is an Advocate?
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Someone who pleads the cause of another; who
defends or maintains a cause or proposal; or who
supports or promotes the interests of another.
What is an Campaign?
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A connected series of operations designed to bring
about a particular result
Do You Want to Campaign?
We do Not Need to Be Negative
We do Not Need to Be Negative
We do Not Need to Be Negative
People are ready for this change
We do Not Need to Be Negative
We do Not Need to Be Negative
People are ready for this change
People are ready for this change
They just need to know about it
Complete Street (Before)
Millions of Missourians Cannot Drive
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1.2 million are under
the age of 16
756,000 are over the
age of 65
378,000 between 1665 have at least one
physical disability
40% of all Missourians
Millions of Missourians Cannot Drive
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1.2 million are under
the age of 16
756,000 are over the
age of 65
378,000 between 1665 have at least one
physical disability
40% of all Missourians
Does the Status Quo work for them?
Finances
The citizens of the United States
sent 32.6 billion dollars of their
wealth overseas on foreign oil
Finances
The citizens of the United States
sent 32.6 billion dollars of their
wealth overseas on foreign oil
In January 2011
Health
Today’s children may be the first to not
outlive their parents
Health & Finances
No connections around school
No sidewalks
Complete Street (Before)
Complete Street (After)
General Strategies
for Effective
Advocacy
Be an Informed Citizen
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How transportation policies affect lives
Communicate policies to elected officials
Most of what you need to know can be found in the
Advocacy Manual given to you today
Join an Advocacy Organization
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Local: BikeWalkKC
State: KanBikeWalk and MoBikeFed
National: League of American Bicyclists
Funds
Email alerts
Educate Others
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Ask what Livable Streets means to them
 Slightly
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tweak
Handle objections
Facilitate Effective Meetings
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Pick a time and place that is appropriate for the
group
Build a strong agenda
Ensure good facilitation
Understand and Change Perspectives
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You are here: You are likely not “normal!”
Perspectives; Ask Questions
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If you did decide to walk or bicycle……
What about Federal, State and local policy…..
Set Reasonable Goals and Compromise
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Users and infrastructure at the same time
Baby steps
Be Completely Credible
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Appearance
Positive & visionary
Follow up
Complete Streets Is Not A Partisan Issue
So Do Not Make It One
Non-partisan
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Identify the qualities of Livable Streets that appeal
to the two main parties.
Steps to Building a
Successful Campaign
Is Your Campaign the Right Fit?
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Has reasonable prospects for victory
Results in definite community improvement
Engages important groups of people
Fits your organization or neighborhood’s mission,
culture and resources
Leverages positive media
Step 1: Define Your Issue
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Identify the problem
Formulate a solution
Illustrate how to implement the solution
List people who care about what’s at stake for them
These are your stakeholders.
Formulate your Quick Pitch
Step 2: Set Your Campaign Goals
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Goals should represent the social changes you wish to
see
The long term goal should be be the overall goal of
the campaign
Short and medium-term goals are steps toward the
overall goal
Short and medium goals can be small
It is very important that your neighborhood or
organization goals support the campaign
Step 3: Assess Your Resources: SWOT
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List your strengths
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List your weaknesses
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E.g. No membership structure
Opportunities
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E.g. Strong fundraising ability
E.g. Safe Routes to School Funding
Threats
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E.g. Community detractors, NIMBYs
Step 4: Strategize:
Who has the power to make the change you seek?
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Primary Targets
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Secondary Targets
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Specific people
Not simply “city council or MoDOT”
Who can apply for that grant; who must support your effort?
People who have influence over the primary targets
Public Targets
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Geographic: Neighborhoods, street corridors, schools, business
districts
Constituencies: Soccer moms, citizens of low wealth
Obtain Stakeholders Commitments
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Ask the important questions
Wait for an answer
Reach out to Stakeholders
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Prioritize based upon the effectiveness of
communication.
 Face
to face
 Telephone conversation
 Email
Identify a Champion
Strategy:
Who has the power to make the change you seek?
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Create a Power Map
Primary Targets
Secondary Targets
Connections to all targets
Crosswalk on B St.
Step 5: Communicate
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Brainstorm ways to use social media
Compose a personal story
Write a letter to the editor
Write your stair speech
 Hook
 Problem
 Solution
 Specific
 Slogan
actions
Communicate: Media Tactics
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Press Release
Op-ed
Pitch your story to news outlets
Local radio or TV shows
Public Service Announcements
Editorials or Columnists
Step 6: Tactics and Timelines
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Draft a tactic (to-do list)
Give it a deadline
Identify the lead person
Tactic
Date
Lead Person
E.g. Identify allies in
neighborhood: Your
Stakeholders
May 15, 2011
Neighborhood
Association President
Step 7: Manage Your Resources
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Large campaigns can cost money
Your campaign may not require much money
It is important to consider what your expenses may
be
 Personnel
 Professional
Expenses
 Printing, materials, mailing
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Seek in-kind support from stakeholders
Outline possible income the campaign can
generate
Speaking at Public
Meetings
Research Protocol
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Length of speaking time?
Are you allowed to use media?
Distribute documents?
Coordinate Stakeholders
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Plan talking points
Plan for potential arguments
Respect the stakeholders efforts
Questions and Answers
Step 1: Define Your Issue
Identify the problem (e.g. Crossing B Street is unsafe)
 Formulate a solution (e.g. B St. needs a crosswalk)
 Illustrate how to implement the solution (e.g. city should
fund crosswalk and pedestrian signal)
 List people who care about what’s at stake for them
(e.g. families, neighbors, disabled, runners, etc.). These
are your stakeholders.
Quick Pitch:
Put these four elements together in sentence or two that
can be recited quickly.
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