The first Collaborative meeting of 2024 brought nearly 120 Collaborative partners to Commonwealth Charter Academy in the Waterfront on Thursday, February 22. The meeting focused on the work that the Civic and Policy Engagement Action Team facilitated to elevate the importance of advocacy as it relates to nonprofits. Meeting goals included:
- Recognizing the impact of data on advocacy efforts for nonprofit organizations.
- Discovering strategies for advocacy as described by key nonprofit leaders.
- Participating in an advocacy activity to promote increased confidence when engaging with legislators.
- Providing an update on the recruitment process for Vision Council members.
- Completing the meeting survey.
Nonprofit advocates shared their experiences and a one-pager document, Nonprofits, Advocacy & Lobbying, was distributed which offered useful information and data resources around advocacy. The advocacy panel included:
- Rochelle Jackson, CEO, Black Women’s Policy Center
- AJ Jefferson, CEO, Homeless Children’s Education Fund
- Ken Regal, Executive Director, Just Harvest
- Jada Shirriel, CEO, Healthy Start Pittsburgh
In addition to the Advocacy Panel, the digital copy of the Jefferson Regional Foundation Report to the Community was shared.
If you are interested in becoming a Vision Council member, please complete the application here. Applications are open through June 14, 2024.
For your convenience, a link to the slides from the meeting can be found here.
Please also save that date for the next Collaborative meeting on Thursday, May 30 from 8:30am-11:00am at the Sunset Room at the Vista (Elizabeth Township). The meeting will focus on the work of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Racial Justice (DEIRJ) Action Team.
