STRATEGIC MOVES for CHARLESTON MOVES! is a visioning document for the enhanced strategic and board decision making of Non-Profit advocacy group Charleston Moves, conducted by Kristen Young, Master of Public Administration student at the College of Charleston in fall 2013.
INTRODUCTION • Charleston Moves is Charleston’s only non-profit organization for bicycling, walking, and other alternative forms of transportation that uses an advocacy approach to address important issues in livability through altering public policy. Charleston Moves is attempting to confront the local challenges in transportation with big projects and creative solutions. • This report suggests innovative strategies in advocacy to apply to the unique circumstances of Charleston Moves to assist the organization in enhancing local transportation policies for the improved livability of the Charleston area.
LIVABILITY • Livability refers to the social and environmental quality of life in an area as perceived by its residents employees, and visitors. • Charleston Moves ultimately maintains, along with the national and international movements towards livability, that advocating for improved transportation facilities will improve quality of life. • The literature on the subject of livability suggests that a context specific, transport oriented model of livability can be used by advocacy organizations as a practical model to assess community needs and accomplish benchmarked goals.
Figure 1. Livability Indictors for Transit-Oriented Community Initiatives
Source: Partnership for Livable Communities, 2013
BENCHMARKING • In advocacy approaches to community livability, especially to improve local transportation, benchmarking is a useful strategy to achieving successful project goals. • It helps to show government officials and bicycle advocates how they compare to other communities, as well as identify the needs and areas for improvement. • South Carolina ranks among the bottom third of states in mode share, safety, funding, policy, and education for bicycle and pedestrian issues; but it ranks in the top third for advocacy capacity (Alliance for Bicycling and Walking, 2012).
LESSONS FROM THE LITERATURE Biking and walking advocacy groups indicate the importance of widespread public support through: •
Collaborating with other community organizations
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Making sure constituents voice their concerns at public meetings
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Encouraging people to share their personal stories
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Building relationships with government officials
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Creating strong public and private partnerships
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Appealing to new and underrepresented audiences
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Emphasizing livability, connectivity, and community benefits
ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS In September 2013, the Board of Directors for Charleston Moves conducted a session to contribute to the creation of a new strategic plan aimed at prioritizing action steps for the next three years. At this time the board indicated a number of goals and strategies that they felt were the most significant aspects of success. They identified important priorities under the following categories: •
Grassroots Advocacy Development
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Policy Influence
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Resource Development
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Leadership Development
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS Grassroots Advocacy Development
Policy Influence
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Create and foster a community membership program starting by talking directly to citizens about issues in transportation
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Foster partnerships with community organizations and stake holders by conducting collaborative meetings and inviting input in the strategic decision making process
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Create alliances with local universities like the Medical University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston by encouraging and training students to create campus-level advocacy groups (College of Charleston Moves, for example)
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Advertise new internship positions with Charleston Moves directly related to the assistance in developing and advocacy support and altering policy
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Invite local policy makers on casual bicycle tours of Charleston to allow personal experience of transportation issues outside of an office setting
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Reach out to advocacy group leaders in other communities for advice and input on changing transportation policy
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Collect current data on community needs by conducting focus groups, observational analyses on the level of biking and walking in the Charleston area, surveys, and interactive events
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Conduct citizen lobbying advocacy training to enable supporters and help get the message out about important issues
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Develop a communication plan based in grassroots outreach
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Display the importance and relevance of the livability cause through media
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Reach out to non-traditional bicycle users (aka, non-spandex), foster diversity through including special programs for women and children, Spanish-language speakers, and lowincome neighborhoods
Leadership Development
Resource Development
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Expand member data collection efforts and create a comprehensive database of volunteers, supporters, and potential donors
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In the Executive Director recruitment process, seek leadership qualities that emphasize collaboration and partnership
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Invite policy makers, stakeholders, and supporters to meetings discussing strategic options for Charleston Moves
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Grow administrative support by involving experts from the Department of Transportation and local municipalities
Create a strategic budget focusing on current resources and projections for the next three years Create a strategic fundraising campaign and annual campaign corresponding with project support deadlines Utilize all resources including local partnering opportunities, advocacy resources, fundraisers involving supporters, grants from foundations supporting livability, informational websites and public livability guidebooks (for a list of resources, see the appendix to this report). Use information gathered from community focus groups and surveys to display compelling need for livable transportation policy to stakeholders Invite stakeholders to be directly involved in the decision making process
Other Considerations
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Create a new strategic plan assuring not only strategic project implementation but also research and evaluation on critical community needs
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Create an annual report and impact studies on implemented projects and programs to create a record of success for evaluation, comparison, and future resource development efforts
MPA STUDENT LEARNING COMPETENCIES • This project demonstrated the universal competency for participating and contributing to the public policy process, through a method of applied research intended to assist the organization Charleston Moves by reviewing and displaying innovative strategies in advocacy for transportation policy reform. • The project can be used by Charleston Moves to display vital livability and community information to stakeholders and public policy makers, as well as contribute to the strategic decision making process. • The report ultimately contributes to a greater understanding of the policy process required to develop bicycle and pedestrian facilities through advocacy, in the Charleston area.
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Contact me: youngkn@g.cofc.edu Visit the Charleston Moves website: www.charlestonmoves.org Read my full research project: issuu.com/kristenyoung/docs Contact Photographer Ashley Wyndham: ashwyndham@gmail.com Hire me! (I’m looking for a job): re.vu/kristenyoung
Thank You!