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Local Progress Impact Lab’s Policy & Strategy Primers are a series of foundational learning sessions on policy tools and strategy designed to help local electeds and staff figure out where and how to get started on key issues. Whether you’re recently elected or looking to build your knowledge in a specific area, each session will dig in on both policies and strategic approaches to help you use all your local levers to drive change. The series operates on a regular, recurring schedule throughout the year focusing on issues related to housing, community safety, economic justice, and communications strategies.
Our 2023 schedule is live! You can sign up below for as many sessions as you like and as far in advance as you want:
1. Who can sign up for the Policy & Strategy Primers?
The series is open to all Local Progress members – including those who have recently joined, those who have been active for years, and those who are no longer in elected office (i.e. alumni). It is also open to your staff. All we ask is that each person signs up individually so they receive the appropriate Zoom links.
2. Can I invite my staff to join?
Yes! They can sign up for as many sessions as they like even if you are also planning to join or not.
3. I can’t make any of the virtual workshops. Are there other resources available?
Yes, there are many resources available to you as a Local Progress member:
Wed, Sept 27 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
People are safer when they are taken care of. But for too long, we have relied on policing and the criminal legal system while underinvesting in what people need to thrive. This workshop will offer some key strategies to foster community safety from a public health perspective, such as community response programs, violence prevention, infrastructure, and youth programming.
Wed, Oct 11 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
Equitable development is when public and private investments, policies, and planning advance the quality of life of underserved communities. They also benefit workers and reduce racial disparities by increasing access to affordable housing, quality education, living wage jobs, and transportation. This workshop will identify key local drivers of equity, as well as tools available to local governments to promote equitable development such as community benefits agreements, local hire, inclusionary zoning, equitable planning, local business support, and more.
Wed, Nov 15 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
Local governments have a critical role in ensuring their policies preserve and develop housing so that it is affordable, accessible, and dignified for everyone. This workshop will give an overview of housing issues and strategies that advance equity utilizing a range of levers, including renter protections, investing in affordable housing preservation, and managing new housing development.
Wed, Nov 29 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
As local elected officials, it is crucial that you develop a vision and strategy for getting you and your community's stories told through the media – especially now in a media landscape increasingly defined by scarcity in communities of color and non-major cities. This training will empower you with proactive press strategies – including how to earn media coverage and build relationships with reporters.
Wed, Dec 6 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
This workshop will introduce core concepts around how to instill accountability and restrain abusive and discriminatory policing with a focus on harm reduction. Topics covered will include independent oversight of police, use of force, demilitarization, and surveillance technology.
Wed, March 1 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
As local elected officials, it is crucial that you develop a vision and strategy for getting you and your community's stories told through the media – especially now in a media landscape increasingly defined by scarcity in communities of color and non-major cities. This training will empower you with proactive press strategies – including how to earn media coverage and build relationships with reporters.
Thurs, March 9 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
This workshop will provide an overview of the numerous policy levers available to local governments—including localities in preempted states—to advance and protect workers’ rights. Topics covered will include: leveraging your contracting and licensing power, establishing worker boards and labor agencies, being a model employer, creating new labor standards, and more.
Wed, April 5 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
This workshop will introduce core concepts around how to instill accountability and restrain abusive and discriminatory policing with a focus on harm reduction. Topics covered will include independent oversight of police, use of force, demilitarization, and surveillance technology.
Wed, May 10 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
People are safer when they are taken care of. But for too long, we have relied on policing and the criminal legal system while underinvesting in what people need to thrive. This workshop will offer some key strategies to foster community safety from a public health perspective, such as community response programs, violence prevention, infrastructure, and youth programming.
Wed, June 14 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
Local governments have a critical role in ensuring their policies preserve and develop housing so that it is affordable, accessible, and dignified for everyone. This workshop will give an overview of housing issues and strategies that advance equity utilizing a range of levers, including renter protections, investing in affordable housing preservation, and managing new housing development.
Wed, June 28 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
Social media is an opportunity for local elected officials to own their stories and speak directly to their communities outside of the traditional media landscape. This training will offer ways to identify which platforms are right for you, how to establish your voice, and how to effectively use social media to engage your community and support your policy and governing priorities.
Wed, July 19 | 4pm ET | Location: Zoom
Equitable development is when public and private investments, policies, and planning advance the quality of life of underserved communities. They also benefit workers and reduce racial disparities by increasing access to affordable housing, quality education, living wage jobs, and transportation. This workshop will identify key local drivers of equity, as well as tools available to local governments to promote equitable development such as community benefits agreements, local hire, inclusionary zoning, equitable planning, local business support, and more.
Check out our resource library! We highlight solutions to the most pressing problems and the best practices from the network.
The Local Progress Impact Lab brings together local leaders, partners, and issue experts to build the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to advance racial and economic justice at the local level.