We are excited that you are interested in IEL's Policy by the People 4-Part Synchronous Modules. This module series is designed to equip you with the skills necessary to create a strategy to make a systemic change toward equity, engage in root cause analysis to determine policy solutions, and understand how to develop a dynamic advocacy plan. At the conclusion of these modules, you will have developed a policy and advocacy strategy that can be implemented on the local, state, and federal levels.
The cost for IEL's Policy by the People 4-Part Synchronous Modules is $245. Invoices for payment will be issued once applicants are notified of their acceptance into their program.
The Policy by the People Modules will take place from 2-3:30 pm ET on the following dates:
- November 13, 2024: Understanding and Implementing the Policy by the People Approach
- Creating a sense of agency within a community is essential for overcoming cynicism in the policy-making process. This module is designed to introduce participants to IEL's Policy by the People Approach as a model for making sustainable, systemic changes in the policy landscape. Participants will learn:
- the foundations of the Policy by the People approach and examples of it in practice;
- the three different types of policies and how they work on a continuum;
- and the conditions needed to make both short-term and long-term policy changes.
- January 15, 2025: Understanding Root Cause Analysis to Identify Policy Goals
- Making sustainable change requires understanding what is at the root of a problem. This module is designed to help participants identify the root causes of issues impacting their community and start to draft potential policy solutions. Participants will learn:
- how to conduct a root cause analysis to address policy challenges;
- how to engage in power mapping to answer the 5 W's of drafting policy recommendations;
- and how the cycle of advocacy ensures fidelity to the Policy by the People approach.
- February 26, 2025: Developing the 4 Ps of Policy Advocacy
- Knowing how to share your policy recommendations with a wide audience is the key to a successful advocacy strategy. This model is designed to give participants hands-on and peer-learning experiences in drafting their advocacy strategy. Participants will learn:
- the 4 P's of Advocacy;
- how to determine their time-blocked policy goals;
- and how to gather feedback from their communities to strengthen their message and approach.
- April 9, 2025: Cohort Learning and Sharing Session
- In this final session, participants will have the opportunity to share with and collect feedback from their peers on the advocacy strategy they have developed over the course of the modules.
The deadline to apply for the Policy by the People Modules is Monday, November 1, 2024. Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to articulate their goals for participating in the modules, how they can contribute to the peer learning to take place in the cohort, and how they hope to learn how to improve equity in the education space.
You will be notified of your acceptance into the program by November 5th. To obtain a certificate of completion, all participants will be expected to attend all synchronous learning modules, complete any and all reading or assignments related to the module content, and honor IEL's Gracious Space Learning Norms (more details will be provided during the first module). Additionally, all the Policy by the People modules and content are owned by IEL and may not be shared with those who have not been accepted for the 2024-2025 cohort.