Events

SATURDAY, MARCH 27th COALITION BUILDING TRAINING 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Trainer: Kevin Bryan of the Meridian Institute. Kevin works with other professionals to design and convene multiparty problem-solving interactions for public policy problems, such as the Climate Action Partnership. The core focus on coalition building will blend the training focus with the real world examination of the coalitions that have been built for environmental justice, community impacts of goods movement, and air quality issues. The training will consist of: Discussion of Coalition Building Principles. What are coalitions? Why do they succeed? Why do they fail? When should an organization participate in a coalition? Establishing a Coalition. Participants will engage in small group simulations to establish a coalition, including identifying key issues that the coalition will address and how the coalition will help each organization achieve its goals; determining the best strategy for action; and assessing how to resolve differences of opinion as they arise. Building the Foundations for Action. Continuing in small group simulations, participants will agree on a set of principles to guide the coalition, as well as a plan of action for actualizing those principles. Taking Action and Preparing for the Unexpected. Each group will be presented with an unexpected challenge that the coalition will have to address. Summary and Conclusions. A summary discussion about lessons learned during the exercises, and an opportunity for participant questions and feedback. DINNER 6:30 p.m. Location: Zucca Ristorante, 801 South Figueroa, Los Angeles, CA 90017 SUNDAY, MARCH 28th FIELD TRIP TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES Depart by bus from the Sheraton Downtown L.A. Hotel at 8:30 a.m. Return to hotel at approximately 3:00 p.m. Join Switzer Fellows Martha Matsuoka (2001) of Occidental College, Francisco Donez (2007) of the Southern California Field Office of the EPA, and Colleen Callahan (2009), Deputy Director of UCLA's Luskin Center for Innovation, and others for a tour of the site as well as a review of the community and cumulative regional impacts of goods movement. Details on the tour stops and schedule are still being worked out, but we ask that participants schedule flights or return trips home for after 3 p.m. Sunday. NOTE: travel expenses for 2009 Fellows traveling from within California will be covered. All others should contact Erin if you would like to attend but would need travel assistance to do so. We will do whatever we can to help as resources allow, including Fellows outside the region. ACCOMMODATIONS AND SCHEDULE: The training is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 27th. We have reserved a block of rooms Friday and Saturday nights at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel for out of town travelers. TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE .Read more >