PolicyAdvocacyConfMWC

8/14/2019 PolicyAdvocacyConfMWC

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POLICY CAMPAIGNSPOLICY CAMPAIGNS

BY COMMUNITYBY COMMUNITYORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS


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Community LawyersCommunity Lawyers

The purpose of empowerment lawyeringThe purpose of empowerment lawyeringwith community organizations is to enable awith community organizations is to enable agroup of people to gain control of the forcesgroup of people to gain control of the forces

which affect their liveswhich affect their lives ..Primarily the representation of grass rootsPrimarily the representation of grass rootsorganizations who are able to identify andorganizations who are able to identify andpursue their own goalspursue their own goals

This style calls for lawyering which joins,This style calls for lawyering which joins,rather than leads, the persons represented.rather than leads, the persons represented.


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Believe that the most effective solutionsBelieve that the most effective solutionsusually come from those closest to theusually come from those closest to theproblemproblem

Believe that community controlled politicalBelieve that community controlled politicalpower is necessary for true development inpower is necessary for true development inlow income communitieslow income communitiesBelieve that political power can best beBelieve that political power can best begained through the organized strength of gained through the organized strength of grass roots organizationsgrass roots organizations


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Building Power,Building

Movement


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Miami Workers Center is a strategy andaction center for low-income black andLatino communities in Miami. The centerinitiates grassroots organizations anddevelops their leadership capacity throughaggressive community organizing campaignsand education programs. The center alsoactively builds coalitions and enters alliances

to amplify progressive power and win racial,community, social and economic justice.

Miami Workers Center

Building Power,Building Movement

Base-Building

Alliances

Campaign

to WIN

Shift theDebate

Building

Movement


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Policy ad power Right to the City


+

P O W ER

POLICY


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Policy Campaign ElementsPolicy Campaign Elements

What is the GoalWhat is the GoalChange in PolicyChange in PolicyIncreased Attention or FundingIncreased Attention or FundingDifference between short term and longDifference between short term and long

term?term?Organizational GoalsOrganizational Goals


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Policy Campaign ElementsPolicy Campaign Elements

TargetTargetPrimary / SecondaryPrimary / SecondaryPower AnalysisPower Analysis

DemandDemandStrategy ElementsStrategy Elements

CommunicationCommunicationDirect ActionDirect Action

ElectoralElectoralCoalitionCoalition


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How can lawyers help:How can lawyers help:Researching and marshalling the factsResearching and marshalling the facts

to affect public opinion.to affect public opinion.

Researching/ explaining theResearching/ explaining thelegal/political processlegal/political process

Identifying / creating forums for Identifying / creating forums for messaging/ communications (publicmessaging/ communications (publicprocess)process)

Stopping or delaying adverseStopping or delaying adversegovernmental actiongovernmental action


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Policy Advocacy CampaignsPolicy Advocacy Campaigns

No battle plan survives first contact with theNo battle plan survives first contact with the

enemy enemy

Helmuth von Moltke (1800 1891)Helmuth von Moltke (1800 1891)


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Policy Advocacy Campaigns

First they ignore you, then they laugh atyou, then they fight you, then you win.

Mahatma Gandhi


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignThe Social ContextThe Social Context

Increasing gentrification of African-Increasing gentrification of African-American neighborhood of Liberty CityAmerican neighborhood of Liberty Cityin Miamiin MiamiSignificant shortage of housing for verySignificant shortage of housing for very

low income families.low income families.Miami-Dade Housing Agency began toMiami-Dade Housing Agency began to

redevelop existing public housing projectsredevelop existing public housing projectsin Liberty City through Hope VIin Liberty City through Hope VI


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignThe Historical ContextThe Historical Context

County housing authority and HUD approvedCounty housing authority and HUD approveda HOPE VI project to turn 850 unit Scott-a HOPE VI project to turn 850 unit Scott-Carver Housing Project in Liberty City intoCarver Housing Project in Liberty City intomixed income housing with only 80 publicmixed income housing with only 80 publichousing unitshousing unitsCampaign, including both direct action, andCampaign, including both direct action, and

lawsuit failed to halt demolition.lawsuit failed to halt demolition.


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies Campaign TheTheHistorical Context (cont.)Historical Context (cont.)

Campaign delayed demolition substantiallyCampaign delayed demolition substantiallyand allowed time for a significant organizingand allowed time for a significant organizingefforteffortThe following year, Housing AgencyThe following year, Housing Agencyproposed a second HOPE VI in aproposed a second HOPE VI in aneighboring developmentneighboring development

LIFFT defeated this proposal, this time atLIFFT defeated this proposal, this time atHUDHUD


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Fill the Vacancies 2002-2004

Building on Prior Advocacy - LIFFT continued witha fill the vacancies campaign

Anticipating Threats Decreasing VacanciesLessened Threat of Demolitions

Listening to Members Vacancies wereincreasing Gathering Information Get Vacancy info Shifting the Debate focus on Housing Agency

incompetence.



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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignThe ResearchThe Research

LIFFT researched the issue, found 19%LIFFT researched the issue, found 19%vacancy rates with 60,000 people on thevacancy rates with 60,000 people on thewaiting listwaiting list

Lawyers obtained data from the HousingLawyers obtained data from the HousingAgency through a Public Records Act request.Agency through a Public Records Act request.Assisted in analysis.Assisted in analysis.


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignThe TargetsThe Targets

Board of County CommissionersBoard of County CommissionersUltimate policy making authorityUltimate policy making authorityFunding power Funding power

Miami Dade Housing AgencyMiami Dade Housing AgencyResponsible for the vacancy policiesResponsible for the vacancy policies

Lawyers can explain the different Lawyers can explain the different operational constraints of theoperational constraints of thegovernmental organizations.governmental organizations.


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignThe DemandThe Demand

Fill the Vacancies within 60 days.Fill the Vacancies within 60 days.


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignMore ResearchMore Research

LIFFT found out that the Housing AgencyLIFFT found out that the Housing Agencywas claiming it could not fill the vacancieswas claiming it could not fill the vacanciesdue to the terms of a desegregation courtdue to the terms of a desegregation courtorder Adker decreeorder Adker decree

Lawyers assisted in clarifying thisLawyers assisted in clarifying thisinformation. Assisted in analysis.information. Assisted in analysis.


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignRefining the DemandRefining the Demand

Lawyers explain consent decree to LIFFTLawyers explain consent decree to LIFFT

LIFFT leaders develop a proposal for a newLIFFT leaders develop a proposal for a newadmissions policy to speed up filling vacancies.admissions policy to speed up filling vacancies.Lawyers confirm that proposal conforms toLawyers confirm that proposal conforms to

consent decreeconsent decree ..


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignThe New DemandThe New Demand

Fill the Vacancies within 60 days.Fill the Vacancies within 60 days.

Use LIFFT proposal to solve the Adker Use LIFFT proposal to solve the Adker Decree issue.Decree issue.


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Fill the Vacancies CampaignFill the Vacancies CampaignThe ElementsThe Elements

CommunicationsCommunicationsPress ConferencePress Conference

Waiting list peopleWaiting list people

Demand on the CommissionDemand on the CommissionDirect ActionDirect Action


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The Miami Herald2002-06-02

Section: Local

HOUSING AGENCY UNDER SCRUTINY OVER VACANCIESANDREA ROBINSON, [email protected]

Miami-Dade County public housing officials, under fire for having hundreds of vacant units and thousands of poor people inneed of a place to live, say a landmark desegregation settlement reached four years ago has caused the massive backlog.

The County Commission has demanded a full accounting from the Miami-Dade Housing Agency after activists revealed thatmore than 1,300 public housing units stand empty while nearly 64,000 residents sit on a waiting list. On Tuesday, agencyDirector Rene Rodriguez is expected to appear before the commission and present a plan to expedite getting more people

into vacant units that are habitable. . . .Advocates for public housing tenants say the agency's explanation linking the vacancies to the settlement is outrageous.

The decree ``was to address the problem of segregation,'' said Tony Romano, a coordinator at the Miami Workers Center.`Ìn no way does the settlement mandate or encourage vacancies, which for us creates homelessness and leaves familieswho are in desperate situations without homes.''

. . .The legal squabbles don't matter much to people such as Ramona Javier, a waiting list client who was counseled by HOPE.

Javier, a mother of five, desperately wants suitable housing. She's so cramped for space that she stores the family's clothingoutdoors.

`Èverybody I know has been able to move, but not me,'' Javier said. `Ì have five children and nowhere to live. I'm living withmy mother, but we sleep on the floor and everything gets wet when it rains. All my clothes and the kids' clothes are storedoutside. They're getting ruined.''

STILL WAITING: Ramona Javier with four of her five children and their possessions in the carport of her mother's house.They sleep on the floor at the house.


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When the press sought comment about the Parcel C struggle, we,When the press sought comment about the Parcel C struggle, we,as the community lawyers, often responded, Why don't you speak toas the community lawyers, often responded, Why don't you speak tosomeone who lives here? The press assumes that the lawyer is thesomeone who lives here? The press assumes that the lawyer is theleader and designated spokesperson. And in many communityleader and designated spokesperson. And in many communitystruggles, lawyers tend to take over such positions. . . Instead of struggles, lawyers tend to take over such positions. . . Instead of appointing ourselves the community spokespersons, we helped theappointing ourselves the community spokespersons, we helped thePolitical Mobilization Committee identify residents, organizers, andPolitical Mobilization Committee identify residents, organizers, anddirectors of community-based organizations to be spokespersons. Todirectors of community-based organizations to be spokespersons. Tomake clear that this was a community struggle, no lawyers weremake clear that this was a community struggle, no lawyers weredesignated as spokespersons. There can be no better spokespersondesignated as spokespersons. There can be no better spokespersonthan a member of the aggrieved community itself.than a member of the aggrieved community itself.

THE LESSONS OF THE PARCEL C STRUGGLE: REFLECTIONS ONTHE LESSONS OF THE PARCEL C STRUGGLE: REFLECTIONS ONCOMMUNITY LAWYERING,COMMUNITY LAWYERING, Zenobia Lai Andrew Leong Chi Chi WuZenobia Lai Andrew Leong Chi Chi Wu


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Direct ActionDirect ActionDemand Meeting with the HousingDemand Meeting with the Housing

Agency Director Agency Director Sleep In at the OfficeSleep In at the Office


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LobbyingLobbying

Commissioners Demanded Action fromCommissioners Demanded Action fromHousing Agency.Housing Agency.

Commissioners funded an outside analysisCommissioners funded an outside analysisof LIFFT proposalof LIFFT proposal

Outside analysis recommended a modifiedOutside analysis recommended a modifiedversion of LIFFT analysis.version of LIFFT analysis.


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ResultResult

Commissioners Provided $1.5 Million toCommissioners Provided $1.5 Million to

Housing Agency to Fill the Vacancies.Housing Agency to Fill the Vacancies.LIFFT was seen as a credible forceLIFFT was seen as a credible forceVacancies were largely filled.Vacancies were largely filled.


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Legal Advocates Role inLegal Advocates Role inVacancy CampaignVacancy Campaign

Helped analyze the information securedHelped analyze the information securedProvided a legal analysis for the groupProvided a legal analysis for the groupcertifying the legality of their proposalcertifying the legality of their proposalParticipated in meetings as legalParticipated in meetings as legaladvisor as the proposal was beingadvisor as the proposal was beingcrafted.crafted.


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Legal Advocates Role inLegal Advocates Role inVacancy CampaignVacancy Campaign

Helped write the formal proposal for Helped write the formal proposal for submission to the County Commissionsubmission to the County CommissionAttended meetings at the Housing Agency -Attended meetings at the Housing Agency -to provide any technical legal responsesto provide any technical legal responsesnecessary otherwise did not speaknecessary otherwise did not speak


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Community Benefits CoalitionTarget - City of MiamiStrategy - Initiative

Coalition Legal Advocates Role -

Legal Advice/ Drafting / Research

Facilitation

S f H i E


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State of Housing Emergency

2006

State of Housing Emergency2006

Pulitzer-Prize winningexpose of Miami-DadeHousing Agencymismanagement

County-widemovement for housing

$ 15 million inimmediate rentalassistance for low-income families

Building Power,

Building Movement

J i f S H


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Justice for Scott Homes 1999

-

Justice for Scott Homes1999 -

Landmark agreementwith Mayor for 1-for-1replacement of 900homes, plus local

jobs, historic site, and

community control of contracting process

Building Power,

Building Movement


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Lawyers have killed off more groups by helping them thanLawyers have killed off more groups by helping them thanever would have died if the lawyers had never showed up. . .ever would have died if the lawyers had never showed up. . .

In my 25 years of experience, I find that lawyers createIn my 25 years of experience, I find that lawyers createdependency. The lawyers want to advocate for others and dodependency. The lawyers want to advocate for others and donot understand the goal of giving a people a sense of their not understand the goal of giving a people a sense of their own power. Traditional lawyer advocacy creates dependencyown power. Traditional lawyer advocacy creates dependencyand not interdependency. With most lawyers there is noand not interdependency. With most lawyers there is noleadership development of the group.leadership development of the group.

Ron Chisom, an African-American community organizer, quoted in REFLECTIONS OFRon Chisom, an African-American community organizer, quoted in REFLECTIONS OFCOMMUNITY ORGANIZERS: LAWYERING FOR EMPOWERMENT OF COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY ORGANIZERS: LAWYERING FOR EMPOWERMENT OF COMMUNITYORGANIZATIONS, William Quigley, Loyola Law SchoolORGANIZATIONS, William Quigley, Loyola Law School

Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth400049.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth400049.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth400049.html


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Our success as community lawyers lies inOur success as community lawyers lies inbuilding tools for subordinated people tobuilding tools for subordinated people tonegotiate with the dominant society, makingnegotiate with the dominant society, makingroom for them to sit at the negotiation table,room for them to sit at the negotiation table,facilitating their say in decisions that affect their facilitating their say in decisions that affect their lives, and encouraging them to capitalize on their lives, and encouraging them to capitalize on their talents and assets.talents and assets.

THE LESSONS OF THE PARCEL C STRUGGLE: REFLECTIONS ONTHE LESSONS OF THE PARCEL C STRUGGLE: REFLECTIONS ONCOMMUNITY LAWYERING,COMMUNITY LAWYERING, Zenobia Lai Andrew Leong Chi Chi WuZenobia Lai Andrew Leong Chi Chi Wu


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An individual has not started living until he can rise above theAn individual has not started living until he can rise above thenarrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.concerns of all humanity.

Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thank you andgood luck.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth400049.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth400049.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth400049.html

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PolicyAdvocacyConfMWC