Challenge:
The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) hosts a biennial LIVESTRONG Summit that brings together close to 1,000 cancer survivors from across the country for four days, to engage in making cancer a national and global priority. In 2008, the LAF wanted to build on the work done at the 2006 LIVESTRONG Summit, where delegates developed personal action plans on cancer issues, to help bring delegates to the next level of collective action and advocacy.
Solution:
grassroots solutions created a Summit model and theme designed to focus on grassroots action and skill-building in order to equip delegates to return home with fresh energy and enhanced tools for activism around cancer issues. The 2008 Summit theme was “Grassroots Works” and consisted of four training tracks: Grassroots and Advocacy, Grassroots and Fundraising, Grassroots and Elections, and Grassroots and Community Programs. grassroots solutions coordinated all of the training curriculum, materials, content, exercises and simulations, activities and logistics. grassroots solutions recruited over two dozen seasoned experts from across the political spectrum and across the country to train delegates free of charge. grassroots solutions also provided preparation, guidance, and support to all trainers.
Results:
- Over 1,000 delegates participated in seven concurrent tracks.
- Delegates participated in real-time simulations and activities for advancing cancer issues, including: hosting actual fundraising house parties, filming real cancer issue commercials, practicing legislative visits, and conducting simulated voter registration door-knocks.
- Summit delegates returned to their communities with specific calls to action and tools for organizing around their calls to action.
- A substantial number of Summit participants were recruited to start local LIVESTRONG Armies and be an ongoing part of the national grassroots network being built by the LAF.