The movement for health justice is reinvigorated by each new advocate rising up to demand equitable, comprehensive healthcare, and our organization is committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders. Leadership development is essential for our movement for health equity!
In October 2022, PNHP-NY Metro launched the inaugural cohort of our Universal Healthcare Legislative Advocacy Fellowship (UHLAF). UHLAF concluded this month with 26 fellows successfully completing the program, coming away with essential advocacy skills.
It is imperative that we develop and nurture future advocate leaders from the healthcare field. We designed this fellowship for students and providers who are relatively new to advocacy, focusing on fostering a variety of transferable advocacy and organizing skills, ranging from power mapping to meeting facilitation and storytelling. Our Lobby Day in support of the New York Health Act and PNHP-NY Metro’s 2023 Legislative Package represented the capstone project for this fellowship: almost all the meetings this year were scheduled, coordinated, and facilitated by our developing advocates!
One of the baker’s dozen of meetings on Lobby Day this past March!
The fellowship consisted of monthly didactic training with topics ranging from Albany’s legislative structure to effective meeting facilitation. In addition, each month had have a short practical component, reviewed as a group the following month. Participants were expected to contribute an average of 3 hours per month from October 2022 - May 2023.
Outline of 2022-23 Curriculum
October 6, 2022: Introduction to the NY Health Act, Getting to Know a District
November 3, 2022: Structure of New York State Legislature - How a Bill Passes
December 1, 2022: Facilitation Training
January 5, 2023: Powermapping
February 2, 2023: Lobbying Skills and Strategies
March 2, 2023: Storytelling as an Advocacy Tool, Social Media
March 14, 2023: Lobby Day 2022
April 6, 2023: Relational Organizing, Ladder of Engagement
May 4, 2023: Basebuilding
To continue this important work, we need your support! We are facing a significant budget shortfall and your contribution - big or small - will help enable us to continue hosting programming like these fellowships. Can you make a tax-deductible donation today?