Landing-header

Advocacy Training

Advocacy Training Series

Valley of the Sun United Way and the Partnership for Community Development at Arizona State University have joined together to bring you an Advocacy Training Series. This three-part video seminar offers a how-to guide for individuals and nonprofits to advocate for policy changes at the local, state and federal levels. View the videos below to explore the topics of nonprofit advocacy, grassroots lobbying and citizen participation.

Additional information on nonprofit advocacy can be found in the article Building Capacity for Public Policy Advocacy, by Liz Baumgarten of Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest. This article explores the benefits of advocacy, barriers to policy participation and tips for capacity building.

Advocacy 101
Michael P. Saunders, Jr. is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College Seminary, LaSalle College and Rutgers University with further areas of study in nonprofit management, strategic planning, marketing in the nonprofit sector, contract law and resource development. His extensive management portfolio includes over 15 years as a planning consultant in government and over twenty years in the nonprofit sector as an organizational consultant and as an agency executive. See Mr. Saunders's presentation notes.

Advocacy 201
Sherri Walton is a volunteer mental health advocate, registered lobbyist and on the board of directors of Mental Health America of Arizona. Sherri is currently the chair of the Maricopa County Human Rights Committee for the Mentally Ill, chair of the Mental Health Matters Political Action Committee and also chairs the behavioral health section of the legislative committee for the Arizona Public Health Association. See Ms. Walton's presentation notes.

Advocacy 301
Timothy J. Schmaltz is the coordinator of the Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition. He is also adjunct faculty at the graduate school of social work at ASU West in Phoenix where he teaches advocacy and lobbying and social analysis. Tim has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and 34 years of executive management, planning, program and public policy experience. See Mr. Schmaltz's presentation notes.