Collaboration is Key

Part One

Pair up with at least one other classmate who is trying to answer a similar question or tackle a similar theme. Collaborate to come up with a plan that will help the group collectively have a greater chance of success. Why collaborate? It’s useful to combine skills with someone else to strengthen your ideas and reach.

What to Include:

1. Goal: What is the goal of your better question? How will your policy proposal help answer the question? How will you engage stakeholders and political parties? How will you build support for your policy and get it on the order paper? How will you ensure your policy is successful?
2. Identify: Determine what opportunities exist to advance your policy. Weigh the pros and cons of each opportunity and decide on the right avenue(s) to pursue. (Table the policy at a party convention; build a coalition of advocates; create a partnership with businesses; generate awareness through media/social media; meet with policy makers/influencers to build support from within the political process.)
3. Analyze: Determine what skills and resources your group possesses to help promote your proposals. Note any skill gaps in the group and create a plan for how you can overcome these weaknesses.
4. Create a Timeline: Determine the steps you will take to build support and assign a timeline for each step.
5. Pitch: Create a clear and descriptive pitch that you can use to build support for your work. Make sure it’s short, energetic, interesting and explains the question your policy seeks to answer. Remember, your audience will have no knowledge of what you’re doing or why. And also remember, by collaborating, you’re working to ensure each policy in your group succeeds.

When your plan is complete, pitch your ideas to the audience you’ve determined can best help you and get their feedback and/or support.

Part Two

Think about the policy you want to create. Write a press release to generate excitement and publicity for your idea. (Hint: focus on what makes your idea unique.)