What Does Grassroots Look Like?
Individual stories for media and donors
Blitz:targeted meetings in Capitol and district offices to support specific bills
Rally: mass demonstrations
Why is Grassroots Essential? What Grassroots is used for:
Legislative Affairs
Fundraising
Media Relations
How We Got Started in Florida Through the Grassroots
1999: To support the Opportunity Scholarships
Worked with parents from private scholarship program
2001: Expanded efforts to help pass Tax Credit scholarship into law
Tax Credit provided ample “raw material” in scholarship parents
Had to defend and expand program
Making More Voices Heard: Tallahassee Rallies
2005: 2,500 at Supreme Court
2006: 3,000 at State Capitol
2007: 4,500 at State Capitol
2010: 5,521 at State Capitol
What We Started With…
2001: Tax credit law passed with Republican majority and one lone Democratic vote
Bipartisan Support - Support From Across the State
2008: Lawmakers extended the program
One third of Democrats in the Legislature
13 of 25 members of the state's black caucus
Every member of the Hispanic caucus.
2009: 202 supporters visited the Capitol
70 meetings with legislators over two days
Bill (HB 453) passed 26-11 in the Senate and 96-23 in the House
Strengthened the program
Support from nearly half the Democrats
A majority of the Black Caucus
All the Hispanic Caucus
2010:
Tax credit program expanded
Cap essentially eliminated
Scholarship increased with bipartisan majority that included
Nearly half the Democrats
Majority of the Black Caucus
All but two of Hispanic Caucus
Results: Advocates continue to effectively convey their pro-parental choice sentiments to their legislators and their legislators are responding…