Leadership and Advocacy in Educational Endeavors

TEL 410

Lesson 2: Developing Your Advocacy Plan

Assignment: Advocacy Action Plan
Name: Taylor Ball

L2: Assignment - Advocacy Action Plan

Design/Challenge Question (revised from the framing exercise):

How can I support families looking to get affordable instruments to participate in music class
and provide private lessons and performance opportunities outside of the school settings in a
way that enriches their musical experience, academic performance and psychosocial
development?

Advocacy Focus Statement (revised from the framing exercise):

There are limited extracurricular music programs in our area for students. In addition, there
are no programs to help student living in poverty to purchase instruments or take private
lessons in our area. By creating a “YMCA” for music we can address three issues – provide
affordable instruments for any student, make private lessons and small ensemble
opportunities for students and provide performance opportunities in the community.

Actionable Goals: (You can have 1-3 Goals. Goals should be written as SMART Goals:
Specific Measurable, Achievable, Results-Focused, Time Bound). For example: By the
end of TEL 410, I will contact 3 state legislatures to discuss school safety.

1. By the end of TEL 410 I will have enrolled 2 organizations in the vision of creating this
new community program. These programs will support the group by securing initial
funding and location.

2. By the end of TEL 410 I will have organized material for advertisement, publicity and
community awareness for the new organization. Reaching out to at least 2 local
school systems, the churches in the city limits advertising both for students and for
professionals to participate in lessons and musical leadership.

3. By the end of TEL 410 I will have searched for and written/applied for 1-3 grants to
secure initial funding for the program. We will also write a petition to BCU for an initial
startup grant from their organization.
Actions: List specific actions you will take to achieve your goals here. You should have
several action items for each goal. Think through, and list, each step you will need to
take to achieve your goal.

1. Write a business plan for presentation to BCU and one local church.
2. Schedule meetings with BCU and church board to present plan
3. Gain approval to operate under the umbrella of BCU and through the use of the church
building.
4. Work with local graphic designer to generate promo material
5. Create a website, social media and connect with other prominent organizations to
generate a “buzz”.
6. Contact both districts and the 13 local churches with promo material, web info and plan
to open.
7. Locate professionals to be available for our instructors and ensemble coaches.
8. Work with our BCU grant writer to find and write for 1-3 grants.
9. Submit grants and a proposal to petition for some funding from BCU.

Timeline (list dates, deadlines):

1. In 3 weeks – Complete action item 1-2, 4

2. In 4 weeks – Complete action item 3, 5
3. In 5 weeks – Complete action item 6
4. In 6 weeks – Complete action item 8
5. In 7 weeks – Complete action item 7, 9

Budget/Resource (membership fees, electronic resources, etc.):

*these may be tangible or intangible resources

Instruments
Repairs
Website
Advertisement
Private Lessons

Build your Team (create your own team, or align yourself to an organization already
involved in your advocacy focus work):
**This section may list team members or contact information for the organization
you are working with.

Taylor Ball – COO

Kelly Williams – COO
BCU – Co-organizer, acts as Program Board (President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer)
Bethel Community Church of the Nazarene – Location of Organization, partners with BCU