The Advocacy Institute works to level the playing field for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) communities, immigrants, low-income people, and other leaders who have been historically excluded and underrepresented. We believe that legislative advocacy is knowable and navigable, and we have developed a core curriculum to provide advocates with the foundational tools they need to build – and win – powerful campaigns. Our intimate trainings foster connections between social justice movement organizations, build relationships across issue areas, and demystify advocacy work for people who are too often denied a seat at the table.
Leadership Development
All trainings are led by Advocacy Institute staff with a strong commitment to social and racial justice and years of experience in government work, direct service provision, policy advocacy, and organizing. We work closely with trusted government insiders, seasoned advocates, and experienced organizers to create training spaces where participants can gain an inside perspective on legislative and budget advocacy and strategize next steps in their campaigns. Participants leave trainings with concrete skills and customized tools to support their advocacy going forward.
Advocacy Leadership Accelerator
Are you working on a New York State policy or budget advocacy campaign and want to deepen your strategy and skills? Are you looking to build knowledge and power with other movement leaders and join a growing community of advocates?
Advocacy Institute invites you to apply for the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator, a 10-month program that expands advocacy skills, capacity, and leadership for up to 20 emerging organizers and advocates across New York State. This program will be held from September 2024 through June 2025, designed to prepare advocates for the legislative session and provide support throughout. We will build on Advocacy Institute’s proven Legislative Campaign Assessment and Tracking Tool (LCATT) curriculum while digging deeper into campaign strategy.
This program centers an intersectional and racial equity lens to examine how multiple forms of oppression combine to impact advocates’ ability to affect policy change. The Advocacy Leadership Accelerator is grounded in the work of participants and our sessions will allow advocates to reflect on challenges they are facing while brainstorming strategies to address those challenges with their peers.
Applications for this program are now closed.
Join the Advocacy Institute on Thursday, January 23rd, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM for our 2025 Real State of the State webinar – an analysis of Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address. Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the legislative landscape and strengthen your advocacy efforts in the year ahead.
In this training, participants should expect:
- An overview of Governor Hochul’s State of the State
- An analysis of what advocates can expect from the Assembly and Senate
- Overview of budget timeline
- Recommended next steps for advocacy
Advocacy Institute trainings are open to policy advocates, organizers, community members, volunteers, and others working toward a more just and equitable New York. Training is free for Advocacy Institute member organizations and $15 per person for non-members.
The deadline to register for this training is Tuesday, January 21st. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a calendar invitation we’ll update with the Zoom link prior to the training. If you’re a non-member, you’ll receive a payment link. Payments are due by Wednesday, January 22nd to receive the event log-in details. We are unable to provide refunds. If you are unable to make it or pay after the deadline, you’re welcome to transfer your event registration to a colleague or apply the fee to a future training.
If you are interested in being a member or have questions about membership, please email membership@advocacy-institute.org.
Join the Advocacy Institute on Thursday, May 16th and 17th, for our in-person Hudson Valley Regional Training. Over the course of two days we will explore the legislative and budget process at the state level. Participants will have the opportunity to build networks with other advocates from the region, and hear from a panel of experienced advocates to examine the political landscape in the Hudson Valley.
During this training, we will explore:
- The timeline, mechanics, and basic concepts of legislative advocacy in New York State
- Explore the key players in the Hudson Valley and how the region fits into the broader statewide political landscape
- And how to build effective relationships with elected officials and coalition partners
Advocacy Institute trainings are open to policy advocates, organizers, community members, volunteers, and others working toward a more just and equitable New York. Thanks to the generous support of the Westchester Community Foundation, we can offer subsidized registration for $60 per participant. Trainings are free for Advocacy Institute member organizations and $60 per person for non-members. The Advocacy Institute will provide lunch and coffee on both days.
At this time during the initial registration process, we are limiting organizations to (2) people to encourage a diverse group of people and experiences in the room. Any additional registrants will be wait-listed until further notice. However, we encourage at least two people per organization to inspire accountability. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, and we will notify you of your acceptance no later than May 3rd.
If you are interested in being a member or have questions about membership, please email membership@advocacy-institute.org.
These trainings are free for AI members and low-cost for all others. Details are added to the Upcoming Events tab closer to each training date.
2025 Calendar
Virtual Trainings
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- Thursday, January 23 at 2:00-3:30 PM: The Real State of the State 2025
- Thursday, March 20 at 2:00-3:30 PM: How Policy Passes: The NYS Bill to Law Process
- Tuesdays & Thursdays, July 15-31 at 2:00-4:00 PM: 2025 NYS Virtual Summer Camp (6 Sessions)
- Thursday, October 16 at 2:00-3:30 PM: New York State Advocacy 101
- Thursday, December 4 at 2:00-3:30 PM: Power Mapping in Albany: Preparing for Legislative Session
In-Person Trainings
- Thursday, May 15 & Friday, May 16: Rochester 2-Day Training 2025
Core Trainings
The Advocacy Institute team has developed a core curriculum that provides the foundational tools advocates need to effectively craft campaigns and navigate the halls of power. Interactive exercises, small group discussions, real-world case studies, and strategies to support member-driven advocacy are woven into all of our trainings. We also work closely with movement groups to tailor and create trainings responsive to current campaign needs and strategic opportunities. Our current core trainings are:
- Introduction to Advocacy – define and differentiate advocacy, legislative advocacy, and lobbying.
- New York State Bill to Law – learn how a bill (really) becomes law at the state level, including how to select sponsors, strategies for moving bills through committees, and routes to get to a floor vote.
- New York State Who’s Who – get familiar with key players in the state legislative and budget processes.
- New York City Bill to Law – learn how to move a bill through the New York City Council and win over the Mayor.
- New York City Budget – explore the in’s and out’s of the budgeting process, including tips on how to impact the big picture of revenue and spending, and different types of funding you can secure to support your work.
- Coalition-Building – explore the importance of working across regions and issue areas, and learn concrete strategies to build a strong coalition.
- Building the Relationships You Need to Win – learn effective strategies to identify and connect with your targets.
Recordings of past webinars are available to AI members via our Tools portal. Not yet a member? Contact membership@advocacy-institute.org to discuss!
Fees
Webinars: free for Advocacy Institute member organizations; $15 per person for non-members, unless otherwise noted.
In-person trainings: free for Advocacy Institute member organizations, $100 per person per day for non-members.
Contact hello@advocacy-institute.org with any questions.