Legislative Trainings

Our curriculum teaches the critical strategic and technical skills needed for today’s legislative advocacy. Our cohort model and intimate trainings foster collaborative networks that develop trust across issue areas, sectors, and the State of New York.

All trainings are produced by a trusted community of government insiders, seasoned advocates, journalists, and organizers. Participants advance strategy, build relationships, share skills, gather information, and optimize their legislative campaigns.

Woven into all of our training opportunities is a commitment to interactive participation, the use of relevant case studies, and an understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression in legislative advocacy.

Eligible applicants must be:

  • Affiliated with a non-profit organization
  • Working actively on social justice legislative or budget campaigns (either on their own or in coalitions)
  • Located in New York State

Engagement Opportunities

Upcoming

RSVP HERE

Western New York Happy Hour (June 10, 2019)

The Advocacy Institute is excited to be in Buffalo on June 10th and we are gathering a few advocates and organizers for a Happy Hour. Reconnect with those you’ve already attended trainings with. And connect with those who interested in attending future trainings. We’d love to see you!

Deadline: June 21, 2019 – APPLY HERE

NYC 3-Day Regional Training (July 11, 18, 25)

The Advocacy Institute (AI) is partnering with United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) to offer a three-day training on legislative and budget advocacy for members of the AI & UNH. The training is an excellent professional development opportunity for those working at direct service organizations to deepen their knowledge about the legislative landscape at the city and state level.

 

Deadline: May 31, 2019 – APPLY HERE

AI Educator Pipeline: Learning to Teach Legislative Advocacy Program Application

We are excited to announce a new course in making you an educator and leader in advocacy for your organization and community. The Advocacy institute is now accepting applications for participants and you can find out more and apply here.

 

Sign up here to be notified about for our upcoming opportunities.

Save The Dates

July 18, 2019: AI Summer Celebration

September 17-18, 2019: Long Island Training (Suffolk)

October 22-23, 2019: Long Island Training (Nassau)

 

 

Sign up here to be notified about for our upcoming opportunities.

Past Webinars

+  All About Implementation (May 30, 2019)
+  Last Chance for Legislation (April 18, 2019)
+  NYC Budget Homestretch (March 28, 2019)
+  Meet our AI Insiders (Building Key Relationships) (February 21, 2019)
+  Campaign Milestones: Tracking Progress Along the Way (January 24, 2019)
+  Key Players & Power Dynamics | How the Elections Impact Legislative Strategy (December 6, 2018)
+ Special Live Q & A, The Senate Flipped. (November 15, 2018)
+ State Power & Authority Why Working Across Regions Matters (Nov 1, 2018)
+ Understanding State Legislative & Budget Cycles (Oct 4, 2018)
+ Regional Funder Training Pre-Webinar (September 12, 2018)
+ AI Tools Basics | Navigating All Available Member Resources (April 26, 2018)
+ Budget & Caucus Priorities Overview (February 20, 2018)
+ Budget & Caucus Priorities Overview (February 28, 2018)

In Person Trainings

Instructions

We will be announcing more in-person trainings in 2019 – likely on Long Island and in Buffalo. We anticipate more demand than we can meet for these trainings and will be accepting participants on a rolling basis by application. Please answer every question on the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If accepted, in-person trainings are free for members and cost $50 per person for prospective members.

Contact hello@advocacy-institute.org for a link to the application or with any questions.

Hudson Valley & Westchester

Hudson Valley & Westchester 2 Day (March 20 & 21)

These in-person training sessions will be tailored to regional priorities, focusing on the legislative landscape and power dynamics at the local and state level. We’ll explore best practices for supporting grantees, coalitions, and campaigns in legislative and budget work. Using campaign case studies and AI tools, we’ll illustrate how funders can track more effectively the critical milestones in legislative advocacy. We’ll practice applying these best practices and AI tools to your organization — ensuring that you leave with concrete resources for understanding and mapping legislative advocacy timelines, key players, and structures.

Please note, the curriculum is cumulative and a webinar will serves as a pre-requisite for the in-person training.

Complete this application form to apply. Contact hello@advocacy-institute.org with any questions.

New York City

New York City Regional 3 Day

The Advocacy Institute (AI) is partnering with United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) to offer a three-day training on legislative and budget advocacy for members of the AI & UNH. The training is an excellent professional development opportunity for those working at direct service organizations to deepen their knowledge about the legislative landscape at the city and state level.

Topics include:

– Key players and power structures and how to navigate them;
– Legislative and budget processes and how to plan for them;
– Tools for effective legislative advocacy including maps and training resources you can share with your team; and
– Connections with individual organizations and coalitions.

Training Details:
Location: Columbia Law School (435 W 116th St, New York, NY 10027)

Three full-day (9:15am – 5:15pm) sessions over three sequential weeks:
Thursday, July 11
Thursday, July 18
Thursday, July 25

In order to make this opportunity as widely available as possible across the network, the number of participants per organization is limited to two (2). Applicants must be able to commit to participating to all three sessions and be a member of AI or UNH. We anticipate more demand than we can meet for this training and will be accepting participants by application on a rolling basis.

Please complete the application by June 21, 2019 to indicate your interest in the upcoming AI training.

 

APPLY HERE

 

Sign up to be notified when trainings are announced. Contact membership@advocacy-institute.org with any questions.

Western NY

Western New York Regional Day

The Advocacy Institute, in partnership with the Clean Air Coalition, is returning to Western New York on June 10th! Please apply now if you have not already done so.

Join us for a powerful day of training, sharing updates on the political landscape in Albany, and connecting with other groups from the region working on legislative campaigns at the state level.

We’re offering two sessions — one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Find out more about each below and join us for either or both.

June 10, 2019
Morning refresher: 9:30am – 12:45pm
Afternoon political landscape deep-dive: 1:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: 2421 Main St #100, Buffalo, NY, 14214
Apply here (deadline May 27)

Sign up to be notified when trainings are announced. Contact membership@advocacy-institute.org with any questions.

Long Island

Long Island Regional 2 Day

2019 in-person training schedule coming soon

Sign up to be notified when trainings are announced. Contact membership@advocacy-institute.org with any questions.

Past Trainings

+ New York City Regional 2 Day (Jan 30 & 31, 2019)
+ Hudson Valley Regional Funder Training (October 25, 2018)
+ Western NY Regional Funder Training (October 12, 2018)
+ NYC Regional Training (Jan. 31, Feb. 7 & 14, 2018)
+ Hudson Valley Regional Training (January 24-26, 2018)
+ Member Training (November 14, 2017)
+ Member Training (October 17, 2017)
+ Western New York Training (September 26, 27, 28, 2017)
+ Member Training (September 20, 2017)
+ Summer Leadership Course (July 6, 13, 20, 27, 2017)
+ Joint Training Series with HSC & UNH (July 11, 18, 2, 2017)
+ Long Island Training (w/ LICET) (May 10, 11, 12, 2017)
+ Member Training (May 18, 2017)
+ Member Training (April 13, 2017)
+ Member Training (March 16, 2017)
+ Member Training (February 9, 2017)
+ Buffalo Training. (December 9 – 11, 2016)
+ Member Training (November 15, 2016)
+ Member Training (September 20, 2016)
+ Long Island Nassau Training (May 25 – 27, 2016)
+ Long Island Suffolk Training (April 26 – 28, 2016)
+ NYC Training (April 22, 2016)
+ Westchester Training. (February 3 – 5, 2016)

Interested in AI Membership?

Your organization has attended at least one AI training and is now ready for Membership—the most comprehensive way to get support for your legislative and budget campaigns.

Learn More