Partners graduates can now be found serving on boards, leading community advocacy groups, speaking at public hearings and leading the charge on important legislation.  The California Partners in Policymaking program has been a tremendous success.  Over the past four years classes have been held across the state giving residents in every community an opportunity to participate in this internationally recognized advocacy training program.  We are proud of the important work our graduates have done and look forward to the exciting things our 2010 graduates will accomplish.

CLICK HERE to view the streaming video online.  The video is just over an hour long.

In 2007, the Sacramento class of Partners in Policymaking California included a participant who was determined to leave her mark on the community and improve things for people with disabilities.  Jennifer Allan has never been one to shy away from an opportunity to speak out for what is right, but the Partners training helped her find where she could make the biggest difference in her community.

After graduating from the Partners in Policymaking training, Jennifer applied for, and was appointed to serve on a City of Sacramento committee addressing accessibility planning for the future.  Her own newly learned knowledge and own personal experience made her an invaluable part of the city’s planning.

Believing that she had even more to offer, Jennifer applied to serve as a board member on the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. In 2009, Jennifer joined the board of directors for the State Council and now provides leadership through her participation and committee work on a statewide level.

Jennifer continues to show up at nearly every rally and disabilities gathering at the State Capitol and has spoken up for persons with disabilities at state hearings and in meetings with her legislators.

Family Voices of California

California Association of Family Empowerment Centers

The Arc of California

Family Resource Center Network of California

PeopleFirst of California

Visit these websites for more information about each organization and learn about the services and resources they provide.

To learn more about Partners in Policymaking and discover some excellent online videos, training and other resources, visit PartnersinPolicymaking.com.

March 26-27, 2010
April 23-24, 2010
May 21-22, 2010
June 25-26, 2010
July 23-24, 2010
August 27-28, 2010
September 24-25, 2010

After completing the program, the participants will have received more than 100 hours of advocacy training.  They will join the approximate 160 other graduates of the Partners in Policymaking California program.  Graduation for the 2010 class will be on September 25th.

Working with parents in her community, Joan started an advocacy project called Second Tuesday.  Second Tuesday is a legislative advocacy group for families that meets once a month (the second Tuesday) to take action on an advocacy issue.  Rather than being a group that simply sits around and talks about what they can do, these parents plan a visit to a local legislator every time they meet.  On those Tuesdays each month, the parents meet with legislators to discuss the needs of children with disabilities.  The group will also have speakers on occasion, but everyone recognizes that the real progress is made during those legislative visits.  At a meeting last year, the group had more than 50 family members attend.  Because of the tremendous turnout, the meeting had to be broadcast into an adjacent room by webcam so everyone could participate.

The work that Joan has done as a result of the Partners in Policymaking advocacy training has been multiplied many times over through her efforts to train and motivate local families in her own community.  Joan also regularly writes letters to her legislators on specific issues.

Keith speaks locally and nationally as a motivational speaker and self-advocate.  He became the outreach coordinator for People First of California, and helps others with disabilities in Southern California.  Keith is a member of the North Los Angeles Regional Center board of directors where he is actively involved in improving services to people with disabilities.  Keith also serves on the committee for the California Memorial Project.  Keith is actively involved in his community and always looking for more ways to help others.

Immediately after attending the first Partners training in March 2009, LeeAnn made an appointment to meet with Anthony Adams, her state Assembly member.  She was successful in meeting with him while he was in the district office.  She brought her son to the meeting (as recommended during the training) and discussed her concerns about program service cuts that were recommended in the Governor’s budget proposal.  A couple months later, LeeAnn met with staff from State Senator Bob Huff’s office.

It didn’t take long for LeeAnn Paddock to start advocating for the disabilities community the way she had been advocating for her own children for years.  LeeAnn is now working to improve things for all people with disabilities, in her spare time…as a very busy mom.