Challenge:
To mobilize massive grassroots pressure in response to a proposed fifty-three percent cut to Minnesota Economic Opportunity Grants (MEOG) during the 2003 legislative session, and to continue to build a strong grassroots advocacy program beyond 2003. MEOG funds were utilized by MinnCAP’s member agencies to provide services to Minnesota’s most economically underprivileged communities. Nonprofits and social service agencies statewide faced a hostile environment of budget cuts, which made preventing a reduction in MEOG funding impossible. MinnCAP knew that if significant, vocal opposition to the cuts wasn’t generated it risked losing MEOG funding altogether the following year. MinnCAP faced an added challenge in that it had just begun to implement a plan to grow its nascent grassroots program when it received news of the proposed MEOG cuts.
Solution:
grassroots solutions helped MinnCAP plan and execute a targeted grassroots advocacy campaign designed to convey the urgency of the situation, educate supporters of MinnCAP, and mobilize grassroots pressure on targeted legislators. A full-time organizer was hired to educate supporters and give them the tools to effectively contact decision-makers. The campaign concentrated on expanding the base of support for MinnCAP, and on demonstrating to legislators that MinnCAP had a strong and engaged grassroots base. With the help of grassroots solutions, MinnCAP held house parties, collected and delivered letters to legislators, and encouraged constituent visits to legislators to speak out on the issue. After the 2003 session, grassroots solutions continued to help MinnCAP grow their grassroots advocate base, as well as developing key relationships with legislators and public officials.
Results:
- 748 handwritten letters were delivered to Minnesota's legislators, and more than one hundred MinnCAP supporters visited with their legislators to educate them about the work of MinnCAP agencies in their communities.
- On the day of the vote, more than 683 calls and faxes were generated to decision-makers.
- MinnCAP has a thriving grassroots program with more than five hundred engaged grassroots advocates.
- In 2005, Minnesota received its first minimum wage increase in eight years. MinnCAP contributed to this policy success by holding and participating in community local forums with elected officials.