mhcd advocacy les wallace may 2017

5/17/17

© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 1

The Future of Community and Personal Advocacy

Les Wallace, Ph.D.© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 1

It Was the Best of Times…Breaking News


It Was the Worst of Times…This Erudite Author Was not Chosen


It Was the Best of Times…


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It Was…Well, It Just Is


Dominican newspaper El Nacional apologized on Saturday after mistakenly using a photo of Alex Baldwin

dressed as President Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” instead of the president himself.

Still, I Appreciate the Opportunity to Celebrate Wellness and Advocacy

with You Today“Wellbeing: Energize Your Life”

♡ Healthy eating with guidance from a Chef♡ Tango instruction ♡ Acupuncture as treatment option♡ Faith / Spirituality role in wellness♡ Financial well being♡ Dance therapy♡ Community Partners Exhibit


Wellness

“The quality or state of being in good mental and physical health.”

Use of the term dates back to 1653 per Merriam-Webster

Additional trivial fact at no cost to you:O.M.G. was first used in a letter

to Winston Churchill in 1917© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 7

OK, one more trivial fact for fun…Wellness thru Goat Yoga

https://www.facebook.com/goatyoga/© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 8

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Last trivial fact for fun…Robotic Bee Drone


Geek and Industrial design major Anna Haldewang

THE Final ExamWhat one concept, idea, tidbit, factoid,

thought, suggestion, perspective…

…Jumped out at you today?© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 10

Helpful References• Marcia Avner, et. al. The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook (2nd ed.) 2013.• John Daly, Advocacy: Championing Ideas and Influencing Others, 2011.• Michael Donaldson, Negotiating for Dummies, 2007.• Roger Fisher and William Ury, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement

Without Giving In, 2011. • Richard Hoefer, Advocacy Practice, 2012.• Mary Joyce, ed. Digital Activism Decoded (2010).• Patricia King, Persuasion Tactics, 2016.• E. Kuhnke, Persuasion and Influence for Dummies (2012).• Nathalie Nahai, Webs of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion,

2012.• Robert Pekkanen, et. al., Nonprofits and Advocacy: Engaging Community

and Government in an Era of Retrenchment, 2014.• R Schneider & L. Lester, Social Work Advocacy (2001).


Tracking Down the Presentation

• https://www.slideshare.net/LesWallace

• Google: Les Wallace on SlideShare

For my Russian Friends…• https://www.slideshare.net/apoorvo/russian-federation-

10318897© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 12

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Let’s Get to Work…Audience Analysis

• How many community advocates do we have in the room?

• How many of you have ever been in sales?

• How many of you have a “live” issue / topic around which you are actively advocating.


Life and Our Advocacy Journey“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” MLK

• Life is a journey for individuals and organizations.

• A constant learning journey: recovering and adjusting to the bumps and turns.

• Advocacy is a necessity to assure our own journey is healthy and fair and that those voices who may have been minimized gain respect and influence.


Let’s GiddyupA Blazing Fast Run Through Advocacyq Sit-ins to Social Mediaq Your Personal Brandq Know Your Audienceq Story Tellingq Volunteeringq Every Conversation an Opportunityq Appreciative Listening & Advocacyq Elevator Messagesq Social Media—yours and othersq Example of “The Pitch”


From Sit-In to Social Media


In recent months the following marchesHave occurred or are planed:• Women’s March• Immigrants March• Scientists March• Tax March• Chefs March: “Plate of the Union”

The Earth is Flat: anyone can Connect to everyone.• Fake news and hatred can thrive

•A sound, thoughtful and evidencebased platform can be influential

• FACEBOOK is revising it’s approachTo “civic discourse”

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Sit-Ins to Social Media

Social media took its seat at the advocacy table with Rick Levine’sthe cluetrain manifesto: the end of business as usual (2000)

“conversations taking place on Web sites and message boards, and in e-mail and chat rooms, employees and customers alike have found voices that undermine the traditional command-and-control hierarchy…”


Meet meta-activism.orgMary JoyceFounder Meta-Activism Project

2008 New Media Manager for Barak Obama’s Campaign…First national political campaign to heavily rely on social media for organizing.


Instantaneously ConnectsWhole Agendas @ Fingertips


Mary Joyce, meta-activism.org

The average American has 5 social media accounts and spends 1hr. 40min. a day on them.

Twitter Can Be Used by Bullies and Narcissists


Place appropriate photograph of Bully here ………………….

Of interest…Del OteroPicture of real teen blocked by@RealDonaldTrump

Genteel yet powerful Tweeter@9MinuteMentor

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Traditional Means Not Going Away


Different “advocacy” engagements target different outcomes:• Marches create awareness and solidarity for

advocates.• Testimony gives advocacy a face of human

impact & can make an economic business case.• Social media creates awareness, spreads

evidence, supports messaging and builds a sympathetic / activist network.

• Presentations / discussion (churches, libraries, civic groups, affinity groups) create awareness.

Mind Your Brand

No one is invisible. What’s your personal credibility look like?


Mind Your Brand…Practical Your audiences will size up your personal

brand by searching social media.


Mind Your Brand: From the Literature

People size us up around three domains of behavior and competency:

• Expertise / capability: knowledgeable in our field of endeavor; does our homework, organized & delivers outcomes. Good problem solver.

• Trustworthiness: is our word sound? Are we objective and balanced in sounding out issues?

• Personable: affable, easy to work with; a respectful advocate and interested listener, who can manage disagreement and negotiate.


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TrustworthyPerceptions that you are untrustworthy—even a little—will substantially reduced your credibility and decreases your chances to be influential.You don’t have to be unethical to lose traction here:Do you have loose lips? A gossip? Frequently miss commitments others think you have made? Do you talk behind people’s back?


Mind Your Brand…Practical

What will they find? What impression are you making?


Know Your Audienceand What Drives their Choices


Compassion Return on Investment

Know Your Audience


Adapting messages to the interests, of others has always been the backbone of persuasion.

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Know Your Audience


• Unfortunately we live in a world where compassion frequently takes a back seat to business practicalities.

• Please don’t feel “less humane” by making the business case for your issue.

Know Your Audience• School boards• Government

agencies• Foundations• Neighborhoods

• Politicians• Community groups• Opinion leaders• Employers• Staffers


“All have a book of interests and world view.”

Align your messages to my interests?

The Social Media of Your AudienceResearch / monitor the social media of your advocacy target audiences:•What are their messages?•What evidence do they cite?

From where? Credible?•What misinformation do they have?•How strident are their views?•To whom do they listen? •Who are their opinion leaders?


Aligning Messages toYour Audience


A good storyteller tells a good story…A Great story teller

helps you see yourself in the story.

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Don’t Ignore What’s in it for Me?“A human being finds it hard to grasp something as fact if it in a way undermines their identity.” Christopher Graves

Ogilvy Center for Behavioral Science

Stories can tell who we are, how we’re like you, and how our interests are mutual.


In Policy Decisions and Politics


What’s in it for me?

It’s Biblical, anthropological,sociological, hormonal, psychological,

political & sometimes pathetic.That doesn’t make it bad.

Advocacy with Politicians• Understand the opposition’s position and

arguments—you may disagree but they have reasons and emotions behind their points of view.

• Constituents views? Polls?• Invite comments, questions, thought? Listen

for opportunities to align.• Inquire: “What do you need from us?”

Data? Connections? Go public? Testify?• “Inoculate” against the next wave of

messaging and evidence.© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 35

Can Volunteering be an Advocacy Strategy?


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Get in Position to Message“Volunteering”

can be effective and subtle advocacy?

• Classrooms / Youth groups.• Churches / libraries discussion groups.• Community events.• Boards of directors / advisory groups.• Create networks, informal messaging, role

modeling.• Other opportunities


Get in Position to Message“Mental Health Center of Denver

Chamber Ambassadors”


Just their presence is a message. The opportunity to network is a plus!

The Green Tie a “no no!”

Everybody KnowsRed is a Power Color


When diversity & compassion messages are embedded in youth education &

socialization…


…it seems to stick

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Every Conversation is an Advocacy Opportunity

Remember, we are always selling something:• Our personal brand and credibility!• Our ideas, beliefs and actions.• Our best advice for friends and

organizations.• Credible evidence on

impact—human and $.• New / developing stories.• Perspective. © Signature Resources Inc. 2017 41

Every Conversation is an Advocacy Opportunity

And…conversations involve active listening.

Everybody likes to talk aboutthemselves and their beliefs.

Is there a time to listen, to scope out a future audience?

“I’d love to hear more on that.” “Where can I find out more on that research?”

“Is it possible to get my hands on that survey?” © Signature Resources Inc. 2017 42

Appreciative Listeningwith Advocacy Audiences

• Non-judgmental.• Hear them out.• Probe deeper appreciatively…

ü Help me understand that a little bit better?ü What’s your personal experience?ü What guides your thinking?ü Were do you go to get information on

that?ü I understand now how you see it that way.


Appreciative / Reflective Listening andMotivational Interviewing: OARS

• Open ended questionsThe respondent indicates what’s important and how they think / feel.

• AffirmationsAppreciates something in the response. Empathy.

• Reflection“It looks like cost is a primary issue for you?”“Do you have an example of poor decision making?”

• Summaries (appreciative yet encouraging)“Looks like you might appreciate more information?”


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Conceptualizing the MHCDDahlia Campus Through Authentic Listening


A former critic,Maya Wheeler is now one of Dahlia Campus’s enthusiastic champions.

“Every time I went to them with a concern, they took my input to heart.”

Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being NW Park Hill

What’s Your Elevator Message?

If you only had the time it might take for an elevator ride of a few floors…

What would be your crisp, succinct message that would capture my interests?Compassion / Economics?


What’s Your Elevator Message?Personal, Impactful, Evidential?

“You know from your own experience how heartbreaking and damaging it can be to not get adequate care / early intervention / follow-up support, etc.”

“If we could help you save $100 for every $1 you currently spend in law enforcement engaging a person who is homeless, would you be interested in exploring that model and the ROI?”


Every Conversation…Looking for the Teachable Moments

• “I was looking at some research from the U. of Denver the other day that indicated…”

• “Our recovery tracking data indicates that our clients…”


“The clinical evidence indicates that late adolescence and early adulthood is when acute mental health challenges may first appear…”

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Credible Social Media• Leverage off a solid base of authentic and

reasoned messages with as much evidence as your community can muster. This is your credible base!

• Social media connections place your issue on the table and invite conversation—people like to “chat” on social media and you can learn biases, ignorance, passion, evidence?

• Confront the incorrect without being confrontational.

Nathalie Nahai, Webs of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion, 2012© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 49

Social Media

See social media advocacy as a continuum of engagement…

• Curiosity seeker gets good information.• Sympathetic person can learn.• Supportive advocate can get effective

messaging and learn how to get involved.

• Involved advocates can connect and leverage advocacy power.


Informal Formal

Social Media and Your AudienceWe typically focus on the “standard” social media and outlets. Use them all!

AND, don’t overlook film.

A short film, YouTube size, from an interested constituent can covey passion,

compassion, authenticity, value and interest.


Know Your AudienceBecome an Alert Learner

• Elected officials web sites, newsletters, Facebook,™ blogs, voting records.

• Open houses• Receptions• Community events• Position papers• Speeches• Social media• Twitter © Signature Resources Inc. 2017 52

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Know Your AudienceMedia Tracking?

• The Big Girls and Boys of advocacy use media tracking systems and artificial intelligence to get advisories when their “issue” is mentioned.

• Even a smaller community based organization or advocacy group can afford a local “media tracker” service.

• Media Monitoring Tools for Public Relations: Top 100 http://everything-pr.com/pr-media-monitoring-tools/18947/


Advocacy Mapping:What’s Your Map Look Like?

• Targeted decision makers and influencers / opinion leaders.

• Background research on decision makers.

• Evidence tracking for your issue.

• Network & Networking support / expansion.

• Engagement opportunities© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 54

Practical Example of Making a Case

People who are homeless


The “Impact” National Alliance to End HomelessnessAverage costs to incarcerate a person

who is homeless…+/- $14,480 per person (U. Texas Study)

Ave. hospital stay…4 days longer than comparable patient

+/-$2,414 extra costs due to homelessness(New England Journal of Medicine, 1998)


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The $ “Hook”• Homelessness currently cost the city and

county of Denver about $14,480 per homeless person in law enforcement, court costs, incarceration, emergency care and costs of businesses impacted by homeless populations.

• Denver’s cost of enforcement of homeless ordinances was $3.2 million from 2010-2014.

“Too High A Price,” U. Denver Sturm College of Law study (2016)


The “Model”We can take another more proactive approach to avoid those costs and provide the humane services and treatment a person who is homeless needs.


The Humane “Impact!”Mental Health Center of Denver’s“Co-Responder Team Program”

April thru December 20161106 engagements

94% went to treatment vs. Jail


The “Economic” Impact!

MHCD Co-Responder Program:

519 people (1/2 of the people engaged who got proper referral instead of arrest).

@ $7,240 (1/2 cost to Denver per homeless person in legal system) = $375,560 saved/yr.

Repurpose city $ into other critical investments.


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Become makers, inventors, creators, innovators!“You never change things

by fighting the existing reality.To change something,

build a new model makingthe existing model obsolete.”

R. Buckminster Fuller

Can you say “Ice Bucket Challenge?”ALS / Lou Gehrig’s Disease fundraiser


Re-Capping Advocacy Themes• Mind your personal Brand!• Know your audience thoroughly—personal

and business backgrounds, experiences.• Align your tactics (marches, on-line

campaigns, informal education, networking building, testimony) to your target audience.

• Map the “opinion leaders.”• Advocacy is a river not an event. Maintain a

constant flow of effort—don’t get complacent.© Signature Resources Inc. 2017 62

Re-Capping Advocacy Themes• Track “innovations” in community and social

solutions nationwide—many can be imported.• Listen appreciatively —size up your advocacy

challenge and look for “sales” clues.• All strategies are “digitally based” these

days…however, face-to-face networking is always in vogue and powerful.

• Don’t take NO for an answer but don’t be rude.


The World Needs YouWell, Focused and Vocal!


5/17/17



Les Wallace on SlideShare

Spah-see-boh

Les Wallace, Ph.D.President, Signature Resources [email protected]

¤ Dr. Wallace is recognized for tracking business environment and workplace trends and their impact upon business and government. His publications have appeared in Leadership Excellence, Personnel Journal, Credit Union Management, Public Management, and Nation's Business as well as numerous research and conference proceedings. His latest book, co-authored with Dr. Jim Trinka, A Legacy of 21st Century Leadership, outlines the leadership organizations need in a global, fast moving business environment. His book, Principles of 21st Century Governance (2013) is being used by many boards in the profit and not-for-profit sectors to design governance development approaches.

¤ His new book, Personal Success in a Team Environment (2014) is used by individuals and organizations to improve teamwork, career building and success at work.

¤ Les is a frequent consultant and speaker on issues of organizational transformation and leadership, employee engagement, strategic thinking and board of directors development and governance. His clients include Fortune 100 businesses, Government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations world-wide. Dr. Wallace is also the host resource on the 9Minute Mentor, a series short video tutorials governance.

¤ Les has served on the Board of Security First Bank and the international Boards of the World Future Society and Counterpart International. He currently serves on the board of the Mental Health Center of Denver. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. Les writes an on-line column for CUES Center for Credit Union Board Education.

¤ https://twitter.com/9MinuteMentor


mhcd advocacy les wallace may 2017

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