The Voice for Kids and Teens
The Voice for Kids and Teens Maisha C. Leek BGCA Government Relations
The Voice for Kids and Teens
• Overview of our mission – BGCAs unique position – Value of a strong advocacy program • Relationships for the long-term - Don’t forget the staff! • I’m fired up: how do I get going? • Advocacy Opportunities • The importance of having a plan
Overview of our Mission
Our Vision: BGCA as the #1 Advocate for America’s Kids
Leading U.S. out of school time provider of healthy meals and snacks
Helping out of school time programs achieve safety excellence
Largest U.S. out of school time program ensuring academic success
Leading advocacy org. making kids and teens a policy/political priority
Optimal Club Experience
Public/private partner of choice for urgent issues facing kids & teens
Empowering Clubs to be effective advocates through bestin-class GR training.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the leading voice for kids & teens.
Global view of advocacy interests
BGCA’s unique position to advance a national narrative – relationships and interests across American sectors. BGCA’s priorities
Corporate America’s policy priorities
• Out of school time: academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character & citizenship
• Academic success: ensuring global competiveness
• Safer Childhoods: safer communities, online and with caring adults
• Keeping a commitment to military families
• Mentoring and safe online engagement
• Unique Needs of Military youth
• Leveraging technology to generate opportunities for Native youth
• Unique Needs of Native youth
• Closing the US “skills gap”
• College and Career Readiness
Priority issues for governments/communities • Academic success/ eliminating the school – prison pipeline
Foundation Philanthropy priorities • Academic success/ eliminating the school – prison pipeline
• Safer Childhoods
• Safer Childhoods: public safety, National Security
• Youth Resilience: military youth
• Keeping our commitment to military families
• Matching untapped talent with unmet needs
• Investing in the future of Native communities • Battling unemployment / underemployment
• Closing the opportunity gap for Native Youth
• Align foundations with our interests to build capacity
The Value to Clubs of a Strong Advocacy Program
• Positions Clubs as a partner of choice meeting the needs of kids and teens • Generates critical relationships • New resources for Clubs
Relationships for the Long Term
Relationships for the long-term
•
• • •
•
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Member, Subcommittee on Livestock, Marketing and Agriculture Security. Senate Committee on Armed Services. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Aides to Elected Officials
Elected Officials
Candidates TO
Many thanks to the Florida Alliance
TO
I’m fired up! How do I get going?
Stages of Club Advocacy Foundational Level
Developing Level
Advanced Level
Advocacy Experience/Infrastructure • No GR Committee; Unsure of how to begin building relationships with elected officials.
Advocacy Experience/Infrastructure • GR Committee exists; engages when there’s a crisis.
Advocacy Experience/Infrastructure Club has participated in advocacy programming; has relationships with elected officials.
BGCA Engagement • Via State Alliance engagement; State advocacy days; phone call /email away to provide direct guidance.
BGCA Engagement • Engaging the Alliance; State advocacy days; BGCA GR Team engage Club to participate.
BGCA Engagement • Facilitate additional opportunities for engagement; partner with Club on connectivity with BGCA national strategy.
Value to the Movement Critical to having a Movement-wide advocacy program is the engagement of every Club in communities across the country.
Value to the Movement Building out a quality strategy to engage elected officials could make the difference between putting out fires and finding new opportunities.
Value to the Movement A Club that is one phone call away from key elected officials is a value to the entire Movement.
GrassROOTS to GrassTOPS Advocacy - Year Round Q1: Release of
Q1: National POTUS budget; Day of of the State; AdvocacyNationalState Day
SOTU; beginning Approps process
of Advocacy
Q4: Engage Transitions
Q4: Lame duck – Late spending bills Ominbus/CR
Year round advocacy amplifies our message, brings Clubs and Movement closer to elected leadership, strengthens our positions as the #1 Advocate.
Q3: Back2School Outreach Q3: Legislative Recess ** Native Great Think ** – National Youth of the Year ** Delayed/Contentious Military Youth of the Year ** MPPP Launch State budgets; agency budgets drafted for following fiscal year.
Q2: State Legislative Days of Advocacy
Q2:Legislative Timeline: Closing of final negotiations on budgetary issues and federal Approps. Closing dates for federal grants.
Advocacy Opportunities
National Day of Advocacy The inaugural Congressional Champion of Youth Award, emceed by Luke Russert, was presented at the Congressional Reception on March 15th in Russell Senate Office Building. Honorees Included: • Senator Thad Cochran • Senator Orrin Hatch • Senator Patrick Leahy • Senator Barbara Mikulski • Majority Whip Steve Scalise • Minority Whip Steny Hoyer
GrassRoots to GrassTops: Back 2 School (July)
GrassRoots to GrassTops: Boys & Girls Clubs Fall Advocacy (Sept - Oct)
The Importance of Having a Plan
The Importance of Having a Plan
• Politics vs. Advocacy • Leading with Message, not Transaction
• Making the Connection Between Advocacy and Outcomes
Feedback
Thank you
The Voice for Kids and Teens
• Overview of our mission – BGCAs unique position – Value of a strong advocacy program • Relationships for the long-term - Don’t forget the staff! • I’m fired up: how do I get going? • Advocacy Opportunities • The importance of having a plan
Overview of our Mission
Our Vision: BGCA as the #1 Advocate for America’s Kids
Leading U.S. out of school time provider of healthy meals and snacks
Helping out of school time programs achieve safety excellence
Largest U.S. out of school time program ensuring academic success
Leading advocacy org. making kids and teens a policy/political priority
Optimal Club Experience
Public/private partner of choice for urgent issues facing kids & teens
Empowering Clubs to be effective advocates through bestin-class GR training.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the leading voice for kids & teens.
Global view of advocacy interests
BGCA’s unique position to advance a national narrative – relationships and interests across American sectors. BGCA’s priorities
Corporate America’s policy priorities
• Out of school time: academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character & citizenship
• Academic success: ensuring global competiveness
• Safer Childhoods: safer communities, online and with caring adults
• Keeping a commitment to military families
• Mentoring and safe online engagement
• Unique Needs of Military youth
• Leveraging technology to generate opportunities for Native youth
• Unique Needs of Native youth
• Closing the US “skills gap”
• College and Career Readiness
Priority issues for governments/communities • Academic success/ eliminating the school – prison pipeline
Foundation Philanthropy priorities • Academic success/ eliminating the school – prison pipeline
• Safer Childhoods
• Safer Childhoods: public safety, National Security
• Youth Resilience: military youth
• Keeping our commitment to military families
• Matching untapped talent with unmet needs
• Investing in the future of Native communities • Battling unemployment / underemployment
• Closing the opportunity gap for Native Youth
• Align foundations with our interests to build capacity
The Value to Clubs of a Strong Advocacy Program
• Positions Clubs as a partner of choice meeting the needs of kids and teens • Generates critical relationships • New resources for Clubs
Relationships for the Long Term
Relationships for the long-term
•
• • •
•
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Member, Subcommittee on Livestock, Marketing and Agriculture Security. Senate Committee on Armed Services. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Aides to Elected Officials
Elected Officials
Candidates TO
Many thanks to the Florida Alliance
TO
I’m fired up! How do I get going?
Stages of Club Advocacy Foundational Level
Developing Level
Advanced Level
Advocacy Experience/Infrastructure • No GR Committee; Unsure of how to begin building relationships with elected officials.
Advocacy Experience/Infrastructure • GR Committee exists; engages when there’s a crisis.
Advocacy Experience/Infrastructure Club has participated in advocacy programming; has relationships with elected officials.
BGCA Engagement • Via State Alliance engagement; State advocacy days; phone call /email away to provide direct guidance.
BGCA Engagement • Engaging the Alliance; State advocacy days; BGCA GR Team engage Club to participate.
BGCA Engagement • Facilitate additional opportunities for engagement; partner with Club on connectivity with BGCA national strategy.
Value to the Movement Critical to having a Movement-wide advocacy program is the engagement of every Club in communities across the country.
Value to the Movement Building out a quality strategy to engage elected officials could make the difference between putting out fires and finding new opportunities.
Value to the Movement A Club that is one phone call away from key elected officials is a value to the entire Movement.
GrassROOTS to GrassTOPS Advocacy - Year Round Q1: Release of
Q1: National POTUS budget; Day of of the State; AdvocacyNationalState Day
SOTU; beginning Approps process
of Advocacy
Q4: Engage Transitions
Q4: Lame duck – Late spending bills Ominbus/CR
Year round advocacy amplifies our message, brings Clubs and Movement closer to elected leadership, strengthens our positions as the #1 Advocate.
Q3: Back2School Outreach Q3: Legislative Recess ** Native Great Think ** – National Youth of the Year ** Delayed/Contentious Military Youth of the Year ** MPPP Launch State budgets; agency budgets drafted for following fiscal year.
Q2: State Legislative Days of Advocacy
Q2:Legislative Timeline: Closing of final negotiations on budgetary issues and federal Approps. Closing dates for federal grants.
Advocacy Opportunities
National Day of Advocacy The inaugural Congressional Champion of Youth Award, emceed by Luke Russert, was presented at the Congressional Reception on March 15th in Russell Senate Office Building. Honorees Included: • Senator Thad Cochran • Senator Orrin Hatch • Senator Patrick Leahy • Senator Barbara Mikulski • Majority Whip Steve Scalise • Minority Whip Steny Hoyer
GrassRoots to GrassTops: Back 2 School (July)
GrassRoots to GrassTops: Boys & Girls Clubs Fall Advocacy (Sept - Oct)
The Importance of Having a Plan
The Importance of Having a Plan
• Politics vs. Advocacy • Leading with Message, not Transaction
• Making the Connection Between Advocacy and Outcomes
Feedback
Thank you
