Public Policy Update
This is a very exciting time for everyone here at the Association. The new legislative season is up and coming, commencing on January 10th of the new year. In preparation for the approaching cycle, we’ve already begun consideration for our Public Policy Agenda.
Earlier this year, we debuted our agenda at the Public Policy Day hosted by the Association at the State House. Tons of volunteers from the local United Ways around the state came to Columbia and met with legislators to present them with our agenda. We’ll be doing the same thing this year, but with an updated agenda.
In order for us to effectively construct an agenda that is suitable to needs of all South Carolinians- we have invited all the United Ways to a special public policy strategy planning session. We believe it important to incorporate as many contributions as possible, seeing how our efforts are meant to benefit the South Carolina community as a whole.
We also have a special guest that is coming all the way up from Texas to help facilitate our discussion. Jason Sabo, is the Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the United Ways of Texas. He also runs Frontera Strategies with Karen Johnson- (who is the President of the UWs of TX), was the former National Policy Director for the Success by Six initiative, and was made fellow of the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest in Washington D.C. Also, Sabo was instrumental in pushing through the legislation that gave access to pre-k education for children of military servicemen and foster children in Texas. Here is a sample of Sabo’s writing- published on the Chronicle of Philanthropy websitehttp://philanthropy.com/blogs/
Sabo will be here in Columbia next week, on Wednesday holding the strategy planning session at the Association. From there he will hold training and workshops at the United Way of the Midlands. We plan to get down to the nitty gritty of what can be done to advocate for the neediest people in our community, and then we plan to show off our South Carolina hospitality!
If you have and questions or suggestions as to what we should be discussing please feel free to email me before Wednesday November 16th and Ill be happy to bring it up!