Alliance > Member Services > Alliance Events

Working with Your Members of Congress

Conference Call | Date & Time: Wed, February 08, 2012, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
• Registrations will close at Tue, February 07, 2012, 3:00 PM (Eastern)

Now, more than ever, building and cultivating relationships with your members of Congress is critical to protecting and advancing bicycle and pedestrian issues on a federal level. Whether you're gearing up to attend the National Bike Summit in March or working in your home community to protect critical funding for sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways in the next federal transportation bill, this call will give you insight into successfully engaging your delegates in Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

Tyler Frisbee, legislative assistant, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR 3rd District)
Ed Barsotti, Executive Director, League of Illinois Bicyclists
Gerik Kransky, Advocacy Director, Bicycle Transportation Alliance

Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grants Q&A Call

Conference Call | Date & Time: Thu, February 16, 2012, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Eastern)
• Registrations will close at Wed, February 15, 2012, 3:00 PM (Eastern)

Is your organization interested in applying for a 2012 Capacity Building Grant? If so, attend this informational session with Advocacy Advance staff to learn more.

Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grants Q&A Call

Conference Call | Date & Time: Fri, February 17, 2012, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Eastern)
• Registrations will close at Thu, February 16, 2012, 3:00 PM (Eastern)

Is your organization interested in applying for a 2012 Capacity Building Grant? If so, attend this informational session with Advocacy Advance staff to learn more.

Framing our Message for the Public, Press and Policymakers

Conference Call | Date & Time: Wed, February 22, 2012, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
• Registrations will close at Tue, February 21, 2012, 3:00 PM (Eastern)

For the average American, overworked Congress member or overloaded journalist, it can be difficult to immediately grasp the many benefits of biking and walking. Well-worn bike-ped catch phrases like “active transportation,” “bicycle mode share” or "walkability" may alienate — rather than entice — potential supporters and allies. How can you create messages that resonate culturally, economically and financially with the audiences you seek? Attend this call to hear from communications experts and fellow advocates who will give you insight into framing and messaging that will resonate.

Panelists

Ilana Preuss, Chief of Staff, Smart Growth America
Jay Walljasper, Communications strategist and award-winning writer and editor
Robin Stallings, Executive Director, BikeTexas

Growing Your Open Streets Initiative

Conference Call | Date & Time: Wed, February 29, 2012, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
• Registrations will close at Tue, February 28, 2012, 3:00 PM (Eastern)

Over the past five years, more than 50 open streets initiatives have taken root across North America. Cities of all sizes have reaped the economic, health and community building benefits of open streets, and many are now looking to expand both the frequency and length of their events and initiatives. But how do you go from an event that happens once a year to something that is engrained in the culture of the city? Join us for a discussion on how cities have overcome obstacles and grown their initiative.

Panelists:

Susan King, San Francisco, CA
Benjamin Weiss, Missoula, MT
Bobby Gadda, Los Angeles, CA

Commuter Challenges — Bikes and Beyond!

Conference Call | Date & Time: Wed, March 07, 2012, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
• Registrations will close at Tue, March 06, 2012, 3:00 PM (Eastern)

There's nothing like a little competition— and recognition — to get folks motivated to make a change in their lives. Commuter challenges entice and reward residents for replacing car trips with active transportation, whether that's riding their bike, traveling by foot or taking public transit. Many advocacy organizations have created successful challenges that have engaged and enlarged their membership base and collectively eliminated millions of miles of car travel. Attend this call to learn best practices, upcoming innovations and how to create a truly inclusive commuter challenge in your community.

Panelists

Stephanie Noll, Programs Director, Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Oregon)
Brian Morrissey, Commuter Challenge Coordinator, Active Transportation Alliance (Chicago)
Amanda White, Associate Director, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
Bill Nesper, Director of the Bicycle Friendly America Program, League of American Bicyclists

Adding Voices to the Discussion: Engaging Pedestrian in the Planning Process

Conference Call | Date & Time: Wed, March 14, 2012, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
• Registrations will close at Tue, March 13, 2012, 3:00 PM (Eastern)

Especially when it comes to transportation issues, the public process often attracts a small cadre of usual suspects: Those who have a zeal for community activism and an understanding of transportation issues. Often missing is input from pedestrians who don't identify as an interest group, residents who are not comfortable speaking up at meetings, and folks who do not speak English as a first language. But there are emerging models in how to shift this paradigm, including recent work by WalkBoston, which utilized a grant from the Federal Transit Administration to develop and test low cost/low tech tools to engage underrepresented populations. In this call, learn from WalkBoston and other advocates, as we discuss how to add voices to the planning process and engage more pedestrians in these critical issues.

Panelists