Effective Advocacy Strategy at the State Level is Crucial

Many with strengths at organizing in neighborhoods and cities face new challenges when they try to take their advocacy work to the state level.

Many advocates have developed strong skills in neighborhood and city-level organizing, but transitioning to state level advocacy presents unique challenges and requires a different skill set.

While successful local organizing builds a strong foundation, advocates have had to adapt their strategies to address broader regional dynamics, engage with a more diverse group of stakeholders, navigate complex state politics, and understand the economic and legal implications at the state level.

One must have a compelling state strategy to put once-in-a-generation federal investments in motion for lasting impact. This is important because the state governments monitor the execution of federal programs, track outcomes, and provide feedback to federal agencies. After national funding periods end, state governments assume responsibility for sustaining the results of workforce development efforts, ensuring the lasting impact of federal investments. In many cases, state governments allocate federal funds, ideally ensuring that resources are distributed where they are needed most and have the most significant potential to drive economic growth and equitable opportunities.

Indeed, staying within local or city-level advocacy while avoiding the complexities of state level engagement is core to the mission of some organizations, and that should continue to be the case. However, it's essential to recognize that state level advocacy offers a unique opportunity to drive broader change and impact by reaching a larger audience and forming alliances that can create sustainable policy shifts.

While focusing on specific cities can be powerful, broadening the aperture through which we see local contexts can attract a more diverse range of supporters, build stronger coalitions, and create a more significant potential for systemic transformation. Embracing state level advocacy can amplify the effectiveness of advocacy efforts and lead to more comprehensive and sustainable outcomes.

Creating a good plan for state strategy involves timing, speed, and smart thinking. When organizations and social change projects match how fast they work with what they want to achieve, they can focus on the most important things and use their resources to make real things happen.

This way of working, based on knowing what to give up and making smart choices, helps people make the most of their limited resources. Strategy is about creating value, which is important for state level advocacy efforts. When you're clear about who benefits and what they get from it, you get more support and your plan works better over time.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing practical examples of advocacy strategies at the state level to impact equity and sustainability in once-in-a generation federal investments. Please, share this post and make sure to subscribe for that content.