This summit offers an opportunity for local residents and aspiring community advocates to learn civic, advocacy, and public policy skills so they can be part of making change in Buffalo Niagara.

This summit is free and open to the public, with advance registration. Register Here: http://bit.ly/AdvocacySummitRegistration

Preview the Summit program here.

The following training sessions will be offered: 

Policy Advocacy 101: Policy shapes our everyday lives: how much we get paid, our access to healthcare, what our kids are fed in school, and so much more. In this session, we’ll discuss what policy is and how you can change it–through coalition building, working with elected officials, and working with the media. At this session, we’ll hear from campaign leaders who advocated for and won a more accessible office of the NYS Office for People with Development Disabilities in the City of Buffalo.

Working with the Media: To move your advocacy forward, it’s important to be seen and heard in the media on a regular basis. This workshop will cover how to work with journalists and how to clearly present your message with facts and stories. We’ll discuss how to do news interviews, and how to offer memorable quotes and answer difficult questions. We’ll hear directly from experienced local journalists I’Jaz Jaciel and Geoff Kelly, both from Investigative Post, joining us to share their tips.

Meeting with Legislators:  To change public policy, you need more than just a good idea. You’ll need to meet with elected officials to advocate and win their support. In this session, we’ll discuss the before, during, and after of meeting with elected officials: how to request meetings, how to make your case and respond to their questions, and how to build lasting relationships with partners in government. At this session, we’ll hear from Janayia Capers, Housing Justice Organizer at PUSH Buffalo, on her experiences meeting with local elected officials.

City and County Advocacy: To be an effective advocate, you need to bring your issue to the right level of government. In this session, we’ll learn the basics of City of Buffalo vs. Erie County government. Who are the leaders and legislators in the City and County? What are their powers and responsibilities? We will map the key departments and issue areas addressed by each local government.

Coalition Building: This workshop will discuss the importance of building and maintaining powerful coalitions to make lasting policy change. We’ll cover what coalitions are, how they form, what challenges face all coalitions, and how to build a foundation for success using strategy, structure, and support. Resources for coalition members and leaders will be shared.  

Trauma-Informed Advocacy: Best practice for advocacy centers the voices of those with lived experience. How can we make sure that we are empowering those engaged in the work rather than exploiting them? Trauma-informed advocacy and activism is not being responsive to the people in the room, but it is creating the room - a place where safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural humility produce community-driven change.

Burnout and Compassion Fatigue: This workshop provides a community space to process current crises, share experiences, and develop strategies to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue. Participants will engage in discussions on crisis management, explore personal and collective coping strategies, and identify ways to move forward together during uncertain times. Through shared learning and community support, we aim to build resilience and create sustainable approaches to well-being.

Click the images below to view the Summit Schedule and Winning Change in Buffalo Panel.