Join the statewide advocacy day to build state laws that bring justice, fairness and opportunities to our families and communities.
FREE BUS TRANSPORTATION
Riverside: 2pm 4/26 from 3657 Lemon Street, Riverside 92501
Los Angeles: Leave 2pm on Sunday, 4/26 from Chuco’s
1137 E. Redondo Blvd, on the border between South Central and Inglewood, CA 90302
Oakland: 7am 4/27 from Fruitvale BART Station: 3401 East 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601
Stockton: 7am 4/27 from Fathers & Families Offices and Youth & Family Empowerment Center: 338 E. Market St, Stockton, CA 95202
PARKING
If you drive separately, in the morning, limited parking is available (arrive early) at the Incubator at 2251 Florin Road. In the afternoon, paid parking is available in garages on L Street between 7th Street and 9th Street.
TIPS FOR ADVOCACY VISITS
Prepare for the meeting by practicing with your group or at least assigning people specific roles like facilitator, timekeeper, story-teller, fact-teller, note-taker, and a person to put forward a clear action we want them to take – e.g. please support the Q4D priority bills.
Meetings will be with staffers, not with elected officials, but they have a TON of influence – ask to talk to staffer handling public safety issues. The staffer will refer to the senator or assembly person they work for as their “Member” or “boss”– you should also refer to them like that. Be nice and be patient – with everyone. Staffers may say stupid things and/or act cold. Alternatively, they could be sweet as pie but do nothing with our information – be prepared for the spectrum. Don’t be afraid to let a person know when they say something wrong, but keep your reaction as patient and calm as possible.
Roles for Legislative Meetings
Speakers 1 & 2 – introduce all of the people and give business cards, talk about the general issues we care about (give list of bills we support), engage in surface level political convo about the budget, CDCR, and the impacts of imprisonment.
Notetaker – write down any interesting things that are said, including strong talking points on our side; write down any next step or ideas from the meeting, make sure to get staffers’ contact info for follow-up.
Observers – pay attention to what is talked about/isn’t, give feedback to speakers if points are being missed, be ready to speak if issue area comes up or important point is being missed.
Get business cards from people you meet with. We will send them thank you’s.
Ask open-ended questions: “what do you think about…” “what do you think you will lose if…” “what would happen if…” “how else could you…”
Stay on aganda – Use the “talking points.” Make sure to come back to the purpose of the meeting, no matter what other topics come up.
End the meeting with: appreciation/thanks, confirming any next steps, quick wrap up of what was covered.
Don’t process the meetings in the halls, elavators, bathrooms, etc. – wait until outside to talk about it. (The Capitol walls have BIG ears.)
