Event Timeline:
- Advocacy Workshop - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Panel with Elected Officials - 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Lunch with Elected Officials - 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Advocacy Workshop:
Legislative policy has a profound impact on our way of life in Wyoming. To help shape the future of our state, nonprofits must have a clear understanding of how to effectively advocate for the causes they espouse and the populations they serve. In partnership with the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, the Wyoming Nonprofit Network is pleased to offer Introduction to Advocacy, an in-person learning event in Teton County. The goal of this training is to teach local nonprofits how to craft compelling messages that educate and resonate with decision-makers at all levels of government.
Workshop participants will:
- Learn the difference between advocacy and lobbying and what activities are allowable for 501(c)3 organizations
- Receive guidance on how to educate Boards about the importance of advocacy
- Gain clarity on how messaging differs for organizations that receive direct government funding versus those that do not
- Explore a messaging framework grounded in core Wyoming values
- Develop messaging aligned with their organization’s specific mission and impact
- Practice messaging in a peer-learning environment
- Be introduced to the role of coalition building in establishing a collective voice that is heard and valued in Cheyenne
- Develop an action plan to support their organization’s advocacy efforts with local elected officials and in advance of the 2027 General Session of the Wyoming Legislature
Elected Officials Panel:
To extend the learning from the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to directly engage with local elected officials in a panel discussion and a networking lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Confirmed panelists, listed below, are not currently running for re-election or are running uncontested.
- Natalia D. Macker, Teton County Commissioner
- Len Carlman, Teton County Commissioner
- Arne Jorgensen, Town of Jackson Mayor
- Mike Yin, Wyoming State Representative. HD-16
- Andrew Bryon, Wyoming State Representative, HD-22
Facilitated Discussion for Established Coalition:
Coalitions allow organizations to combine resources, expertise, and influence to address complex problems, often serving as a bridge between individual nonprofit advocacy and systems of change.
This facilitated discussion will help established coalitions strengthen their collective efforts, both locally and statewide. Participating coalitions will be grounded in a definition of an effective coalition and guided through a series of reflective questions to identify where the group has been successful and where opportunities exist to increase impact.
Who should attend? Established coalitions have been working collaboratively for at least 1 year, have identified priorities and strategic goals and have previously engaged decision makers on coalition priorities.
Registration Structure: Space is limited. One registration per coalition, with limit of 7 participants per coalition). There is no additional fee to register, with attendance to an Introduction to Advocacy and Elected Officials Panel encouraged but not required to participate in the facilitated discussion.
Click here to register!
About the Presenters:
Michael Pearlman serves as the Wyoming Nonprofit Network’s Director of External Affairs, where he leads the Network’s public policy and outreach efforts, serving as an advocate and a voice for Wyoming nonprofits. He previously spent six years immersed in Wyoming state government policy as Communications Director for Governor Mark Gordon. A former Teton County resident, Michael’s professional background includes more than a decade of experience in journalism, communications and public relations in both the private and nonprofit sectors.
Tess Mittelstadt serves as the Wyoming Nonprofit Network’s Director of Learning and Development, where she supports nonprofit organizations statewide through educational opportunities and helps organizations in Natrona County reach their full potential through one-on-one consulting. With a master’s in public administration with a nonprofit focus from the University of Wyoming, and having served as an executive director, director of development, and board member, Tess brings broad experience in nonprofit leadership, community engagement, fundraising, and governance.
