Equality New York’s LGBTQI Local Advocacy Project trains and supports the local advocacy actions throughout New York State. Local leaders and organizations know their communities’ needs and EQNY has the expertise, tools, and resources to help them own and implement their own advocacy local efforts.
To achieve our mission of advancing equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families, we must build the capacity of our local communities and organizations.
The Strong Local Action Initiative is a 6 month program designed to identify, train, and build the infrastructure of an organization or group’s advocacy efforts. EQNY will give organizational partners free access to the technology and tools needed to implement an advocacy initiative in the communities.
Phase 1: Define a Local Issue or Challenge
The organization or group will identify the local leaders in their community who will participate in the program. EQNY will facilitate a session on identifying a community issue or challenge.
Example(s): Local leaders could include but are not limited to: nonprofit staff members, volunteers, residents, or even elected officials.
Phase 2: Create an Advocacy Solution
The partner organizations, with EQNY, will review the issues identified in the first session and select the best advocacy efforts to address the issue or challenge.
Example(s): Issues or challenges can include but are not limited to: passing a local bill in their city council, advocating for an increase in funding for a program, or producing a petition to make people aware of something,
Phase 3: Launch Advocacy Initiative
Organizations will launch a series of educational programming to support their identified advocacy initiative.
Example(s): Programming can include but is not limited to:
- language about challenge & solution via a one-pager;
- website content and images;
- a panel webinar (or in-person) on advocacy topic;
Phase 4: Implement Advocacy Action(s)
Organizations will implement their advocacy action (e.g. petition, phone banking, door knocking, letter signing) for 4-6 weeks using state of the art technology and strategy to engage their local community. EQNY will provide technical assistance and monitoring of all digital campaigns and efforts.
Example(s): Advocacy Actions can include but are not limited to: creating a community survey to gauge needs, a petition to ask elected officials to support a specific bill, or running a phone bank to educate voters on a specific issue or candidate.
Phase 5: Measure Impact & Share Outcomes
Organizations will then work with EQNY to measure the success and challenges had during their advocacy efforts. The impact can be shared with community, elected officials, and funders to help amplify their efforts.
Example(s): Evaluations and metrics can include but are not limited to: short term outcomes like number of signatures collected or volunteers engaged to long term: money secured or policies implemented.
Organizations and groups interested in participating in Equality New York’s LGBTQI Local Advocacy Project can send an email to general@equalityny.org - including:
Organizational Name:
501(c)3/501(c)4 Number (optional):
Main Contact Name:
Main Contact Email:
Main Contact Number:
Organizations or Groups Mission: