Ron Gross, NYSUT 2^nd Vice President

The Local Action Project (“LAP”) is about building power within locals.  This session will provide an overview on the steps teams will take over the next two years to build power and accomplish their goals.  Participant will review the pillars of LAP- Organizing, Social Justice, Political and Community Engagement and how each relate to their project.  Teams will explore the differences between strategic planning from year one and the campaign planning that will be the focus of their work in year two. 

Presenter: Steve Lagnena, Labor Relations Specialist, Suffolk Regional Office

How are the relationships in your local?  Is your LAP team able to effectively work and communicate?  This session will examine components of what makes and effective team.  Participants will analyze how to build trust and manage conflict when it arises. 

Presenters: Loren Fountaine, Labor Relations Specialist, North Country Regional Office; Andy Voigt, Labor Relations Specialist, Central New York Regional Office

In this course, locals will be asked to review the work they did last year surrounding their Mission, Vision, and Values.  They will be asked to reflect upon the appropriateness of the message, how successfully they branded it and if it was successful in engaging their membership.  They will be given team time to create a strategic plan to use their Mission as an organizing tool.

Presenters: Christine Sarni, Labor Relations Specialist, Nassau Regional Office; Paul Aroune, Labor Relations Specialist, Western New York Regional Office

Campaigns are used for a variety of situations including but not limited to funding, negotiations, non-contractual issues, contractual issues, school budgets/budgeting, Board of Education elections, coalitions and addressing concerns in the community.  A tenet of LAP is the ability for the locals to create and sustain campaigns around issues that are important to their union and the community they serve.  This workshop will familiarize participants with core components of a successful campaign.

Presenters: Jennifer Kaseman, NYSUT Director of Constituencies and Program Services; Steve Lagnena, Labor Relations Specialist, Suffolk Regional Office

The first step in developing a campaign is identifying an issue and creating the demand.  Once you have determined this, you will create a strategy for winning your campaign.  This session will review the best practices for choosing an issue to organize around and walk you through the steps needed to create a strategy that will move the decision makers to “yes”.

Presenters: Loren Fountaine, Labor Relations Specialist, North Country Regional Office; Christine Sarni, Labor Relations Specialist, Nassau Regional Office

with Melinda Person, NYSUT President

by Loren Fountaine, Labor Relations Specialist, North Country Regional Office and Greg McCrea, Assistant to the NYSUT President

Participants will understand what makes a good tactic based on their issue, goal/demand, target, and strategy.  They will examine the best practices for creating, analyzing, and escalating tactics to achieve their goal.

Presenter: Mark Dwyer, Labor Relations Specialist, Mid-Hudson Regional Office

An effective leadership and activist structure backed by reliable action teams is critical to the success of any local.  Participants will analyze their current leadership and activist structure.   Teams will consider how charting and mapping of leadership may further bolster their union and gain an understanding of what motivates activism and engagement.

Presenters: Steve Lagnena, Labor Relations Specialist, Suffolk Regional Office; Jessica Smith, AFT

This session will give teams an opportunity to assess the current membership retention rates, retention plan, and how the local recruits and engages new members through a mobilization lens.  Participants will examine the significance of 1:1 conversations in mobilizing members.  Teams will brainstorm mobilizing activities for current members as well as discussing key elements of new member plans. 

Presenters: Steve Lagnena, Labor Relations Specialist, Suffolk Regional Office; Jessica Smith, AFT

How do you go beyond the bargaining table of your local to build? This session will engage members on the fundamentals of building a coalition around an important and/or pressing issue of great impact. You will be able to identify the reasons for building a coalition and the pressure points to create a working group of mutually interested organizations and individuals.

Presenters: Louisa Pacheco, Regional Political Organizer, Western New York Regional Office, Peter Kim, Regional Political Organizer, NYSUT Headquarters

Every local has power and has access to power.  This session will explore the nuances of building and utilizing that power in an issues campaign.  Participants will understand how to analyze the power relationships that exist within their community and formulate plans to effect change by leveraging current and new power dynamics.

Presenters: Elizabeth Vignaux, Labor Relations Specialist, Western New York Regional Office; Andy Voigt, Labor Relations Specialist, Central New York Regional Office

Locals will learn strategies to build, maintain and leverage relationships with members of the Board of Education to the benefit of their members.  Locals will learn best practices to increase participation in Board campaigns and how solidarity can help influence Board relationships.

Presenters: Ian Phillips, Regional Political Organizer, Central New York Regional Office, Emiljana Ulaj, Regional Political Organizer, Tarrytown Regional Office

Decision makers often tend to be politicians which is why its important to understand how to create a political strategy for your campaign.  In this session, participants will learn to assess the support of their school board members and understand how to create political support for their campaign demands.

Presenters: Louisa Pacheco, Regional Political Organizer, Western New York Regional Office, Peter Kim, Regional Political Organizer, NYSUT Headquarters

Communicating effectively within your union and to the outside world is crucial to running a successful advocacy campaign. In this session, we will create a communications plan based on your campaign objectives. We will then discuss best practices for key campaign tactics, such as organizing via social media and engaging with the media to help get your word out. We will work with you to develop a campaign plan that will help you meet your goals while minimizing wasted time and effort on tactics that aren't worthwhile.

Presenters: James Morrison, NYSUT Director of Communications; Ben Amey and Emily Allen, Media Relations Representatives, Communications; Jessica Smith, AFT

Participants will demonstrate how to identify natural escalation points in their timelines (GANT chart) by applying tactics that continue to build pressure on their target.  Participants will understand the importance of including specific goals in their timelines.

Presenters: Steve Lagnena, Labor Relations Specialist, Suffolk Regional Office; Mark Dwyer, Labor Relations Specialist, Mid-Hudson Regional Office

"What Does Racial and Social Justice Look Like in Our Locals?" is designed to help participants understand the role they can play in promoting equality and inclusivity in their communities. The workshop will feature round table discussions where participants will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas on how to address member concerns and bring all groups to the table. Through these discussions, attendees will learn about the power they have to control the narrative and take actions that can help move the needle towards a more just local and community. The workshop will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools they need to plan for future social justice actions and ensure everyone is seen and heard in their communities.

Presenters: Wayne White, NYSUT Director of Social Justice; Samantha Rini, Social Justice Specialist; Eric Jones, NJEA

In this session, we will review the new system to help your LAP team resource your LAP plan.  We will review the worksheets and discuss best practices when thinking about your resource requests.

Presenters: Jennifer Kaseman, NYSUT Director of Constituencies and Program Services; Jeff Lockwood, NYSUT CFO, Director of Finance