Strategy #3: Advancing Policy Initiatives
The third strategy of “The Resiliency Project” is to advance policy initiatives that break down systemic barriers preventing children and young people from reaching Cradle to Career milestones. This can only be achieved by addressing key policy issues and seizing opportunities for transformative change at the organizational, local, state, and federal levels.
Key components of this strategy include:
- Statewide Policy Coalition: This coalition aligns policy priorities and action with organizations with similar interests and priorities.
- Shared Policy Agendas: Adopted collectively by RMP’s partners.
- Civic Influencer Fellowship Program: Supports young leaders to rise up to advocate for change, drive policy initiatives, and shape the future of our region, ensuring their voices are heard and their experiences inform the decisions that affect their lives.
Statewide Policy Coalition
To achieve our ambitious goal of supporting 71,000 more children and young people to meet key cradle to career milestones, we recognize that significant improvements in state policies are essential. As the only StriveTogether network in Colorado, RMP understands that we cannot accomplish this alone.
We’ve observed tremendous success in other states where regional collaboratives have united to enhance their advocacy power, creating a more substantial impact on policy change. Inspired by these successes, we are assembling a statewide coalition aimed at advancing cradle to career (C2C) policy outcomes and enhancing economic mobility for all young people in Colorado.
This coalition is a robust network of regional and local collaboratives, each comprising decision-makers and community members. RMP will serve as the coordinating entity, overseeing, and supporting aligned efforts to ensure a unified and effective approach.
Shared Policy Agenda
We are developing a powerful policy agenda for 2024-2025 that will position us as the tip of the spear in identifying and addressing the key policy opportunities that can dismantle the barriers young people face on their journey to upward mobility. This agenda will serve as a strategic blueprint, equipping our partners and Civic Influencers with the crucial information necessary to drive transformative change around each of these policy opportunities.
A key part of our process for crafting this shared policy agenda includes hosting Policy Innovation Labs. In collaboration with local, state, and federal elected officials, our Policy Innovation Labs bring together decision-makers, technical experts, and community members. These labs mark a bold shift from “business as usual,” designed to critically assess and reimagine policies to create meaningful, lasting change. The insights and recommendations from these labs are vital in shaping our shared policy agenda, allowing us to target the most pressing issues affecting young people’s progress and drive impactful action.
Civic Influencer Fellowship Program
Our Civic Influencer Fellowship Program empowers young people aged 16-24 who are directly impacted by these challenges. By training, mentoring, and resourcing these young individuals, we transform them into effective civic leaders and decision-makers.
At the heart of this is a year-long fellowship that supports these young individuals to:
- Understand the Region: They gain a deep understanding of regional challenges and the decision-making landscape.
- Take Action: They engage in HIPs, lead policy and advocacy activities, and mobilize their communities for change.
- Build Competencies: They develop crucial leadership skills, supported by mentors and navigators trained with evidence-backed models.
To learn more about the Civic Influencer Fellowship Program click the button below
Click HereKey Action Steps for 2024
Statewide Policy Coalition
- Map existing policy coalitions and agendas aligned to improving Cradle to Career Outcomes for children and young people
- Launch statewide policy coalition to align on policies impacting RMP’s 71K goal
Shared Policy Agenda
- Hold Policy Innovation Labs to explore specific policy needs and pinpoint innovative policy solutions at all levels
- Develop and share out policy recommendations report
- Develop and share out 2024 – 2025 shared policy agenda
Civic Influencer Fellowship Program
- Transition Civic Influencer Program to incorporate a 12-Month Fellowship Program
- Launch Cohort 1 of the Civic Influencer Fellowship Program
- Host convening for communities interested in standing up their own Civic Influencer networks
Performance Measures and Metrics
Below are the data points we are using to track progress and impact of this strategy. These metrics are tracked in real time and will be publicly available through The Resiliency Project Data Hub.
- # public dollars aligned to what works
- # policy wins achieved
- # community members engaged through policy and advocacy efforts
- # community members impacted by public dollar alignment / policy changes
- # youth trained as ‘Civic Influencers’ through RMP’s Civic Influencer Fellowship Program
- # Civic Influencers holding leadership positions across the region
- # organizations adopting the Civic Influencer model
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Questions? Contact Senior Director of Institute & Strategic Supports, Ashley Edinger at AshleyEdinger@RMPBackbone.org. |