Trainings

Since 2005, we have been traveling the country, offering briefings, presentations and trainings to those who share our goals. The foundation for this fieldwork is a series of ongoing research projects that we commissioned to help us understand Americans’ perceptions about government, taxes and budgets, and government’s role in the economy. From this multi-faceted communications research and our fieldwork experience, we have developed strategic recommendations for undertaking the long-term task of shifting public opinion of—and building cross-cutting support for—the essential roles of government in society.

Our fieldwork and trainings are as varied as the organizations with whom we work. We train public sector unions to state revenue coalitions to elected officials to community leaders. With each of these different types of groups, we tailor our workshops and hands-on exercises.

However, all of our fieldwork and trainings stress the three core tasks that are essential to creating reasonable, productive public discourse about government:

Highlighting the unique mission, values and purposes of government. We must help remind people why government exists and how it is connected to our quality of life and the functioning of our community, state and nation. We must paint a big picture vision;
Offering clear and concrete images of the public systems and structures that are essential to meeting that mission and purpose. We must find ways to reawaken an understanding that our public systems and structures require maintenance and support to function well and that they are essential to a successful economic recovery; and,
Elevating a civic, or “citizen” perspective that focuses not on how much government “costs” or how each of us benefits individuals. Rather, we must build a vision that we are all citizen-managers responsible for the public systems and structures around us.

Recent Trainings

Making the Case for California: Talking about Government and Inequality

Sacramento, California | April 2013
Hosted by: California Partnership
Presenter: Anika Fassia

Making the Case for Government

Oakland and Los Angeles, California | April 2013

Turning the Corner Conference

California Budget Project

What's the Story?

Using State Narrative to Build Public Will

Bighorn Leadership Development Program

Making the Case for Government

Making the Case for Cal Fresh

Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Making the Case for Government

Berkeley Media Studies Group

Making the Case for Government

Roosevelt Institute

Making the Case for Government and Public Services

Harvard Trade Union Program

Building a Strong Texas Future

Austin, TX | February 2013
Hosted by: Texans Care for Children
at the Children's Policy Conference
Presenter: Marcia Kinsey

Making the Case for Government and Public Services

Massachusetts | February 2013

Oregon Advocates College

Neighborhood Partnerships

Northwest Health Foundation, Learning Cohort

Portland, Oregon | January 2013

Georgetown University Public Policy Institute Conference

Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Race and the Role of Government

Michigan | January 2013

Hosted by: Michigan League for Public Policy/Prosperity

Making the Case for Government

Austin, TX | January 2013
Hosted by: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Leadership Academy
Presenter: Marcia Kinsey

Georgia Policy and Budget Institute

Atlanta, GA | December 2012
Presenter: Elaine Mejia

National Governors' Assn./ Reform & Modernization

American Federation of Teachers

Government, Taxes and the Community Case for Revenue

Boston, MA | December 2012
Hosted by: Campaign for our Communities
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Government, Taxes and the Case for Revenue

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center

Harrisburg, PA | December 2012
Presenter: Elaine Mejia

Making the Case for a Strong Nebraska

Omaha, NE

Communicating about the Important Role for Taxes Omaha, NE | December 2012

Hosted by: Rebuild Nebraska
Presenter: Marcia Kinsey

Oregon Advocates College

Portland Oregon | December 2012
Hosted by Neighborhood Partnerships
Presenter: Patrick Bresette and Anika Fassia

National Governor's Association -- Human Services Advisors

December 2012
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Making the Case for Government's Role in Environmental Stewardship

Tahoe City, CA | November 2012
Hosted by: State Environmental Leadership Program
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Building Public Awareness of the Essential Role for Government

Washington DC | November 2012
Hosted by: AARP Policy Council
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Incorporating Shared Messaging into Coalition Work

Bismarck, ND | November 2012
Hosted by: North Dakota Economic Security and Prosperity
Alliance
Presenter: Marcia Kinsey and Anika Fassia

Framing Children's Issues -- What's Working? What's Not?

Kids Count

Communicating Effectively about Economic Justice and Taxes

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

Community Engagement Initiative of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM | September 2012
Hosted by: W. K. Kellogg Foundation
Presenter: Patrick Bresette & Anika Fassia

Making the Case for Government's Role in the Economy

Toronto, Canada | August 2012
Hosted by: Nat'l Union of Public & General Employees
(NUPGE)
Presenter: Elaine Mejia

Coordinating Messaging on Fiscal Issues in Idaho

Boise, Idaho | July 2012
Hosted by: Idaho Kids Count
Presenter: Marcia Kinsey

Making the Case for the Public Sector

New Jersey | June 2012
Hosted by: 2012 Communications Workers of America
(CWA) Public Healthcare and Education Workers
Conference
Presenter: Elaine Mejia

Community Engagement Initiative of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM | June 2012
Hosted by: W. K. Kellogg Foundation
Presenter: Patrick Bresette & Anika Fassia

Oregon Advocates College

Portland Oregon | June 2012
Hosted by Neighborhood Partnerships
Presenter: Patrick Bresette
Resources

Communications Boot Camp

Oregon | June 2012
Hosted by: Neighborhood Partnerships and
Oregon Voices
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Training of Central Oregon Housing and Homelessness

Advocates
Oregon | June 2012
Hosted by Neighborhood Partnerships

Making Children and Youth a Public Priority

Washington DC | June 2012
Hosted by: Kids Count/Voices for America's Children
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Making the Case for Government and Public Services

Massachusetts | May 2012
Hosted by: Harvard Trade Union Program
Presenter: Elaine Mejia

Making the Case for Government's Role in the Economy

Progressive Leadership Conference, New York | June 2012
Hosted by Center for Working Families
Presenter: Elaine Mejia and Anika Fassia

Michigan Summit

Michigan | May 2012
Hosted by: Michigan Voice and Progress Michigan
Presenters: Elaine Mejia and Anika Fassia

Talking about TANF: Navigating Public Perceptions and

Misperceptions
Portland, OR | April 2012
Hosted by: Temporary Assistance Advocacy Planning
Retreat
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Talking about Government Services, Taxes, and the Need for Revenue

Sacramento, CA | April 2012
Hosted by: California Partnership
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Messaging to Further Your Mission

Columbus, OH | April 2012
Hosted by: Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in OH
Presenter: Patrick Bresette and Elaine Mejia

Oregon Advocates College

Portland, OR | April 2012
Hosted by: Neighborhood Partnerships
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Making the Case for Fiscal Reform and the Role of

Government
San Francisco Foundation Public Policy Grantee Convening
California | March, 2, 2012
Hosted by: San Francisco Foundation
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Translating Data for Policymakers

Raising Revenues: Investing in the American Dream

GIST/GCYF - 9th Annual Budget and Tax Briefing for
Grantmakers: Crisis, Opportunity & Action
Washington, DC - February 29 – March 1, 2012
Hosted by GIST/GCYF
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Making the Case for Government and Public Services

Massachusetts February 2012
Hosted by: Harvard Trade Union Program
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Using Value-Based Narrative to Reclaim the American Dream

Oakland, California February 2012
Hosted by: Mobilize the Immigrant Vote
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Building Public Will for a State Budget that Moves NC Forward

Raleigh, NC – February 3, 2012
Hosted by Together NC
Presenters: Patrick Bresette & Elaine Mejia

Making a Case for Government

North Carolina City & County Management Assn Seminar
Durham, NC - February 2, 2012
Hosted by: NC City and County Management Association
Presenters: Patrick Bresette & Elaine Mejia

Housing Communications Summit

        Washington, DC | February 1st, 2012
        Hosted by: Center for Community Change
        Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Communicating Effectively About Public Issues

Jefferson City, MO | January 24, 2012
Presenter: Marcia Kinsey

Making the Case for Investing in Children in Challenging Times

        Baltimore, MD | November 17th, 2011
        Host: Kids Count Annual Conference
        Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Government, Economy, And Taxes

Albany, New York | October 03, 2011
Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Engaging Americans and Building Support for Public Solutions

        Webinar | September 07, 2011
        Hosted By: Public Works
        Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Making the Case for Government and the Revenues it Needs to do its Job Well

        Washington D.C., District of Columbia | September 19, 2011
        Hosted By: WAND/WILL
        Presenter: Elaine Mejia

Bringing the Public Back to the Public Schools

        Raleigh, North Carolina | September 10, 2011
        Hosted By: Blueprint NC
        Presenter: Elaine Mejia

Governing for Prosperity, Finding Opportunities, Creating Solutions

        Bismarck, North Dakota | August 30, 2011
        Hosted By: North Dakota Economic Security and Prosperity
Alliance
        Presenter: Marcia Kinsey

Making the Case for Government and the Revenues it Needs to Do Its Job Well

        Austin , Texas | August 03, 2011
        Hosted By: WAND/WILL
        Presenter: Patrick Bresette

Recent Trainings

Resources for Trainees