Gearing up for Cascade’s Advocacy Leadership Institute

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Click above image to read the program brochure.

Oh man, it’s been a great month so far. The weather has been (dare I say) fantastic for Bike Month, tons of people are riding, and we’re getting very excited for the launch of Cascade’s first grassroots leadership development program, the Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI), later this summer.

By now, I’m sure you know that the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan is being updated this year and we have clear principles we want to see help guide the outcome. We also see the Bicycle Master Plan update as a perfect chance to help others get experience organizing in their communities, advocating for bicycle-friendly plans and policies, and getting better bicycle infrastructure built on the ground. ALI will develop local bicycle proponents and enthusiasts into leaders who advocate – and inspire others to advocate – for a bike-friendly Seattle.

This three-month program will kick off in July and run through September. In addition to the eight scheduled trainings this summer, we will deploy a variety of fun, hands-on tactics to get our positions heard loud and clear, inspire others to take action, and inform what goes into the final Bicycle Master Plan.

There is no cost to apply or attend if accepted, but a serious commitment to making Seattle the best city in the country for bicycling is expected. You can read much more about the program content here, but what that description doesn’t include is our all-star lineup of special guests.

We’re enlisting a little help from the experts to share with you their knowledge of effective storytelling, goal-setting, mapping allies and opponents, executing tactics, and dealing with the media – among many other essential skills and tools. And to do that we've already confirmed a dozen guest speakers, from elected officials Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien and Washington State Senator Adam Kline (D-37), to local media rockstars Erica C. Barnett (Publicola/Crosscut) and Dominic Holden (The Stranger), to fellow advocacy “pedalers” Cathy Tuttle (Seattle Neighborhood Greenways), Blake Trask (Bicycle Alliance of Washington), and Brock Howell (Futurewise). We also just confirmed local notable political super-hack, Dean Nielsen and Transportation for Washington Campaign Manager, Carrie Dolwick.

There are many more speakers lined up and the list continues to grow. This is going to be a fantastic program and you don’t want to miss out. To apply, email your resume and application to me (Max Hepp-Buchanan) by Friday, June 1. Interviews will be conducted throughout the week of June 11.

Enjoy the rest of Bike Month!