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Advocacy  and  Organizing:    More  Cri8cal  than  Ever    Na8onal  Community  Land  Trust  Network  Conference    

April  27,  2014  

Ethan  Handelman  Vice  President  for  Policy  and  Advocacy  

Na8onal  Housing  Conference  ehandelman@nhc.org  (202)  466-­‐2121  x238  

Who  Is  NHC?  

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Since  1931,  the  Na8onal  Housing  Conference  (NHC)  has  been  dedicated  to  helping  ensure  safe,  decent  and  affordable  housing  for  all  in  America.  

 NHC  ac8vely  engages  and  convenes  its  

membership  in  nonpar8san  advocacy  for  effec8ve  housing  policy  solu8ons  at  the  local,  state  and  na8onal  levels,  working  closely  with  our  research  affiliate  the  Center  for  Housing  Policy.    

 NHC  draws  its  membership  from  every  

housing  industry  segment:  developers,  advocates,  investors,  managers,  lenders,  nonprofits,  realtors,  state  and  local  housing  agencies,  associa8ons,  and  more.  

           

Value  of  coali8ons  

•  Get  no8ced  •  Faster  and  beber  informa8on  flow  •  Peer  learning  •  Become  a  necessary  endorser  

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PROUD GROUND

What is Proud Ground? Proud Ground (Formerly Portland Community Land Trust) is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable homeownership opportunities for people who work and live in our community.

We started in 1999 and are one of more than 230 similar organizations across the country.

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Role of Board of Directors/Staff

•! The board acts as a whole to provide policy direction and budget oversight to the organization.

•! Staff implements policy direction and manages operations.

•! The E.D. works for the board. Board members volunteer for the organization.

Our program areas •! Acquisition: developing new home opportunities, managing for long-

term home maintenance and care •! Outreach: finding families that qualify •! Counseling & Education: preparing families to buy, supporting them

after they do •! Fundraising/Advocacy: developing resources for programs •! Management: managing for success

•! Governance: board oversight of core program areas

Outreach

Information sessions Dedicated sessions

Employers Schools Organizations

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Board involvement

The board! •! Receives regular updates

about outreach activities.

Board members! •! Connect staff with contacts at

employers, schools or organizations.

T.R.U.S.T. South LA Tenemos que Reclamar y Unidos Salvar la Tierra-South LA

Sandra McNeill, Executive Director | sandra@trustsouthla.org | 323-233-4118

Advocacy and Organizing: More Critical than Ever

National Community Land Trust Conference April 27, 2014 – Cleveland, Ohio

T.R.U.S.T. South LA – Tenemos que Reclamar y Unidos Salvar la Tierra - South LA – is a community-controlled land trust established as a democratic and permanent steward of land, to challenge the role that speculators, absentee owners and corporations have played in deciding our neighborhood’s future.!

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Established 1904

Housing in Our Community in 1999

36Th Place

Community-serving Housing

Housing in transition from Community-serving to Student-serving

Student-serving Housing

Housing in Our Community in 2009

36Th Place

Community-serving Housing

Housing in transition from Community-serving to Student-serving

Student-serving Housing

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Our Daily Experience

Displacement!

BUT, just head South past MLK…

Disinvestment!

Our Approach: Establish community control over land

A community-based approach to planning, housing, and community development.

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Image credit: http://interface-studio.com/projects/eastern-north-philadelphia-community-plan/

What is a community land trust?

Member Abundio Flores, and Land Trust staff Tafarai Bayne and Sandra McNeill (right to left) listen to presentations at April Membership Meeting

Candidate Rosa Giron speaks to the membership about her commitment to the Land Trust at the May 2009 Social Dinner

Founding Board Member and Land Trust Community Organizer Monic Uriarte trains Members on bylaws and the responsibilities of a board of directors

COMMUNITY LAND TRUST 2009 BOARD ELECTIONS

Leadership Development, Base-Building

& Community Planning

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Jeff Greene

Net Worth $2.3 B As of March 2013

At a Glance

Age: 58

Source of Wealth: real estate, investments, self-made

Residence: Palm Beach, FL

Country of Citizenship: United States

Education: Master of Business Administration,

Harvard University; Bachelor of Arts / Science,

Johns Hopkins University

Marital Status: Married

Children: 2

David & Delmy:

Slumlord tried to evict their families

and 46 neighbors

Residential

Residential USC

Exposition Park

Commercial

Rolland Curtis Gardens: site map

ROLLAND CURTIS

ROLLANDCURTIS

Expo Line (Light Rail)

•! In July of 2012, after 15 months of organizing a tenant-led campaign, T.R.U.S.T. South LA and Abode Communities purchased the property.

•! Organizing tactics: tenant solidarity, legal/state notification requirements, code enforcement, support of public officials and City departments,

Rolland Curtis Gardens: organizing campaign

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Rolland Curtis Gardens: Theatre of the Oppressed

Rolland Curtis Gardens: Community Planning Process

Rolland Curtis Gardens: final plan

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Ques8ons  and  Observa8ons  

What TRUST South LA has learned about shifting power:

•  Effective organizing work must be grounded in shared values

•  Start with context: gather the facts together •  Collective analysis produces a more thorough result •  Establish allies, including advancing an insider/outsider

strategy •  Identify points of leverage, and plan strategy with both

allies and community leaders •  Be creative! •  Leadership development is critical, and must be on-going •  The power of many must be built by the many, not crafted

by a few

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Steps  to  a  Successful  Mee8ng  with  a  Legislator  

 Step  1:  Say  who  you  are  and  let  them  know  if  you  are  a  cons8tuent.  •  Step  2:  Say  why  you  are  there  –  the  one  sentence  version.  

•  Step  3:  Make  your  case  –  the  three  minute  version.  •  Step  4:  Ask  for  something  –  their  vote,  their  sponsorship  of  a  bill,  etc.  

•  Step  5:  Keep  it  short  and  sweet  –  15  minutes  is  a  good  mee8ng  length.  

•  Step  6:  If  your  legislators  oppose  your  issue(s),  take  a  moment  to  ask  their  reasoning,  and  address  any  misconcep8ons  

5  Tips  to  Make  it  a  Success    1.  Try  to  leave  something  in  wri8ng:  fact  sheet,  newspaper  clipping,  etc.  

2.  Ask  if  there  is  any  other  informa8on  or  answers  the  legislator  would  like.  

3.  Ask  the  legislator  how  else  s/he  might  help  you  (they  may  have  a  way  to  help  you  might  not  have  considered).  

4.  At  the  end  of  the  mee8ng  verbally  review  what  you  agreed  to  do  for  the  legislator  and  what  the  legislator  has  agreed  to  do  for  you.  

5.  Aier  the  mee8ng,  be  sure  to  get  the  legislator  what  you  promised  in  a  8mely  manner.  If  expec8ng  a  future  response  from  a  legislator,  ask  when  you  can  respect  to  receive  that  and  follow  up  

6.  Be  on  8me,  respecful,  posi8ve  and  inspiring.  

Do’s  and  Don’ts  of  Advocacy  Visits:    Do’s:  

1.  Be  open  to  talking  with  staff.  2.  Bring  the  facts.  Address  any  misconcep8ons  or  myths.  3.  Give  personal  stories,  they  are  powerful.  4.  Have  your  facts  and  data  at  the  ready.  5.  Be  specific.  Know  what  you  want  your  legislator  to  

do.  6.  Be  honest.  Do  not  exaggerate.  7.  Be  concise.  Keep  visits  &  phone  calls  brief  &  to  the  

point.  8.  Be  courteous,  firm,  and  confident.  9.  Celebrate  successes!    10. Have  Fun!  

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Do’s  and  Don’ts  of  Advocacy  Visits:    

Don’ts:    1.  Don’t  be  in8midated  or  8mid.  2.  Don’t  make  threats.  Don’t  argue.    3.  If  it  is  clear  that  the  legislator  will  not  support  

your  posi8on,  just  give  the  facts  and  ask  him  or  her  to  consider  your  viewpoint.  This  will  keep  the  lines  of  communica8on  open  for  discussing  future  issues.  

4.  Don’t  expect  the  impossible  and  don’t  give  up.  

What  you  can  do  

•  Speak  from  your  experience  as  a  houser  •  Develop  rela8onships  with  policymakers  and  staff  

•  Join  coali8ons  and  cooperate  in  advocacy  •  Do  what  you  can  

Par8cipa8ng  even  in  small  ways  helps  affordable  housing  

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Nine  Factors  that  Contribute  to  Successful  Advocacy  

1.  The  Right  Thing  to  Do  Needs  a  Poli8cal  or  Legal  Venue  2.  Timing  is  everything:  look  for  open  policy  windows  3.  Poli8cs  is  the  Art  of  the  Possible:    Have  a  feasible  solu8on  4.  Planning  might  be  tedious  but  it’s  Important:  Have  a  

dynamic  plan  5.  Develop  strong  campaign  leaders:  6.  Don’t  Let  them  Divide  and  Conquer:    Have  an  influen8al  

support  coali8on  7.  Do  their  Cons8tuents  Care??    Be  able  to  mobilized  the  public  8.  Inside  Help  is  Useful:  Establish  powerful  inside  champions  9.  Clear  Light  at  the  End  of  the  Tunnel:  Have  a  clear  

implementa8on  path  

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