Learn to lead the pack
Add to your toolbox
Where the rubber hits the road
The Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI) at Cascade Bicycle Club will develop local bicycle advocates and enthusiasts into leaders that advocate—and inspire others to advocate—for a bike-friendly Seattle.
Upon completion of the program, graduates (Community Bicycle Advocates) will have the skills and knowledge to organize, advocate, and hold City of Seattle staff and other leaders accountable for making Seattle a more bike-friendly city. ALI starts with the basics of organizing and progresses each week as participants learn and practice new skills.
The Seattle Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) is in the process of being updated this year. While the original BMP—adopted in 2007—was a strong plan at the time, we have the opportunity right now to update the old plan and ensure Seattle does what it takes to lead the nation in bicycling infrastructure, innovation, and policy.
Building on Cascade’s mission to create better communities through bicycling, ALI will train a diverse group of 15 people from across Seattle to organize in their communities, advocate for bicycle-friendly transportation plans and policies, and get better bicycling infrastructure built on the ground.
By the end September, you’ll have the know-how—as well as the encouragement and support—to effectively: • Communicate your position • Gather like-minded individuals • Run an efficient meeting • Identify needs and present demands • Map your route to success • Put your plan into action • Lead a team to victory
To mix things up, we’ll host a different guest speaker at every session who can speak passionately and in detail about the topic at hand, giving you access to experts’ first-hand knowledge. The 2012 Advocacy Leadership Institute will run from July 11 through Sept. 24, meeting nearly weekly on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown Seattle. Participants are expected to attend at least six of the eight trainings. Though the program is free, participants must be truly committed to making Seattle a great city for bicycling.
The 2012 BMP update should—and with your help, will—result in a world-class plan that incorporates new tools and best practices from around the world, helping us diversify bicycling and vault Seattle into a position of national leadership. This is our chance to help create a Seattle that bicycles, where bicycling is normal, and where it is convenient and safe for everyone. In addition to the eight trainings this summer, we will deploy a variety of fun, hands-on tactics to get our positions heard loud and clear, inspire others to take action and inform what goes into the final BMP.