create

Name the problem. Clearly state the problem you are trying to address.

Name the solutions. What opportunities and solutions would you like to create or put forward to address this problem and why it is important to the community. Describe the values or principles that you want to see at the center of the solution.

Impact Analysis on Design and Implementation: Define who will be impacted, actions to advance solution, how to create resources and a timeline. Find out what decision making authority you must address in order to make this a reality.

Assess and advance your solutions: Ground your policy solution in direct observation. See if this work has been done in other places and what lessons you can learn from others. Fit the context of your community’s challenges to move forward. Revisit the power mapping work with the policy solutions and see who key partners are in moving forward. Build a campaign strategy to win on your proposed solutions. Develop clear and specific benchmarks.

tools

Click here to read: Energy Democracy flipbook by Emerald Cities Collaborative and JCET Project. Image description: cardboard sign that reads "to be silent is to be complicit"

Energy Democracy Flipbook

Emerald Cities Collaborative and JCET Project

Click to read: Regenerative Economy & Peoples Solutions Lens by the United National Frontline Table. Image description: protestors holding a "we who believe in freedom by ella baker" banner.jpg

Regenerative Economy & Peoples Solutions Lens

The United National Frontline Table

Click to read: Propagate, Pollinate, Practice by Movement Generation. Image description: "three doctors in white coats at a protest for George Floyd holding signs that read "white coats for Black lives" and "Justice for George Floyd,".jpg

Propagate, Pollinate, Practice

Movement Generation

Click to read: An Essential Guide to Policy Briefs by International Center for Policy Briefs. Image description: three young people of color, two women and a man, chant along at a protest. one woman holds a megaphone whole the man chants..jpg

An Essential Guide to Policy Briefs

International Center for Policy Advocacy

reflection

  • How does your solution dismantle structural racism, economic oppression, and patriarchy?
  • What skills do you need to turn your solution into policy language (legal, policy architects, academics, etc). Are these skills available in your community? If not, who is trusted to support you in this process?
  • What is your plan for implementation?
  • How will you create political will to advance your solution?

    • Next Steps!

    Drafting your solutions into policy briefs

    With everything above, you have all you need to create policy content and briefs for lawmakers. If you have a strong and trusted ally with legal or policy experience, this can be a great opportunity to use their skills and experience. Additionally, as you ground your policy idea, you might have found policy briefs and language that get to where you want to go. No need to reinvent the wheel! Be sure to reference other legislative or regulatory policies to help make your case. However, if you do not have those trusted partners or policy models, the following are key steps that you can use to create your policy briefs:

  • Keep it simple and clear, yet catchy! You want to avoid flowery language or long sentences. Get to the point and address the problem and solution directly. But make sure your title and framing grabs people’s attention and brings them.
  • Know your audience.Are you writing a policy brief for an executive policymaker, a Mayor, or City Council. Identify who this policy brief is for and make sure that the policy ideas and the introduction to your brief speak to that audience. Make sure that the policy ideas can be implemented by that audience.
  • Frame the problem with purpose and specificity.As a community you already identified the problems! When drafting this section of the policy brief, be sure you provide a clear and specific context of what the problem is, why it exists, who it impacts, and why it is a problem for your community and the greater city, state, or nation.
  • Propose the solution.Propose the solution. Similarly, your community already has the solution! So, when drafting this section of the policy brief, be sure you provide a clear and specific demand of what needs to be done to address the problem. If possible, identify what agency or government office must be tasked with implementing the solution, identify how much funding is needed and funding sources, and discuss the impact that the solution will have on your community and the greater city, state, or nation. Be sure to articulate how this solution will directly solve or address the problems!
  • Site your sources and research! You know your stuff, make sure that policymakers understand that too. Citing sources could mean simply community conversations, interviews, surveys or it could be research journals, news stories, or other policy legislation. Regardless, be sure you show that you have done the work so that policymakers know you are serious.

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