Agendas and Steps for Activating Change

Social change occurs because a person or group gains the attention and support of decisions makers. Decision makers, often in the form of legislators or political representatives, have access to putting issues and policies on the agenda for the business by the assembly. Being placed on an agenda gives you the opportunity to present your advocacy work directly to decision makers and may well determine the success of the development of a policy proposal.

Therefore, policy advocates need to be ready to advocate for their proposal for social change. For this Assignment, you will review 10 issues for activating change and consider how the issues apply to the social problem you selected earlier in the course.

• Review Chapter 6 in the Jansson text as needed. Focus on the 10 issues from “The Agenda Funnel” (p. 181). 

1. Timing  
2. Coupling  
3. Framing and finding a title  
4. Negotiating and bargaining  
5. Assembling early sponsors and supporters  
6. Routing  
7. Media coverage  
8. Setting key endorsements  
9. Coalition building  
10. Building momentum 

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following: 

• Briefly explain the concept of the agenda funnel. 
• Why is context important when advocating for change to decision makers? 
• Using the social problem you identified earlier in the course, explain how the 10 issues Jansson outlined are important when trying to activate change regarding the selected social problem. Provide 2–3 sentences for each of the 10 issues: 

1. Timing  
2. Coupling  
3. Framing and finding a title  
4. Negotiating and bargaining  
5. Assembling early sponsors and supporters  
6. Routing  
7. Media coverage  
8. Setting key endorsements  
9. Coalition building  
10. Building momentum