SFPC’s Legislative Advocacy Training Highlights

by Christine Smith, Southcoast Food Policy Council Program Manager

On July 7, we held our SFPC quarterly meeting and the focus was Legislative Advocacy Training. Working with Rebecca Miller from the MA Food System Collaborative, participants learned how to become confident advocates for a healthy, inclusive, local food system.

Some of the highlights discussed included:

• A description of the types of policy;
• Responsibilities of municipalities, the Legislature, and the Governor’s Administration;
• How a bill is passed in MA in a two-year cycle;
• The state budget process;
• The difference between advocacy and lobbying, and examples of activities from each;
• When are the opportune times to advocate;
• How to get buy-in from your organization;
• How to develop a relationship with your legislator; and
• How to make an ask with a legislator and what to do in the meeting.

In addition, Rebecca provided an overview of all the current Food Campaigns happening in MA and how to sign up for their advocacy efforts, links to additional resources, and an opportunity to brainstorm their new skills with practice scenarios.

If you were unable to join or are interested in learning more, you can watch the video, read the notes, or view the PPT of the legislative advocacy training. Please share the legislative advocacy training with your networks – a trained community is a powerful community!