Strategic Research and Policy Analysis
Knowing Your Allies and Opponents
Strategic research covers a wide range of projects and skills. It can include analyzing financial statements and corporate filings to understand a company’s business model; reading through old news articles to review public statements made by an elected official; or spending a day at a county recorder’s office to identify the owner(s) of certain properties.
But the purpose of strategic research is straightforward—it allows advocates to identify and better understand other stakeholders. Whether the research subject is an ally, an opponent, or someone you hope to persuade, knowing where they fall on an issue and what their interests are will make your outreach more effective.
I started my career as an opposition researcher consulting with state and federal campaigns and creating exhaustive reports on the political positions, weaknesses, and strengths of candidates. In the years since, I have provided strategic research for union organizers and community based organizations running corporate campaigns, as well as advocates leading issue campaigns.
Nothing About Us Without Us
The people who develop legislation are generally very skilled. They have expertise in economics, the law, urban planning, healthcare systems, and a host of other areas of study.
But too often they are ignorant of (or uninterested in) the impact those policies have on the lives of others, particularly Black, brown, immigrant and low-income communities.
The more advocates, organizers, and community members understand public policy—how it functions and why, how it might be changed—the more effective they can be in holding their elected leaders accountable.
As part of my work supporting issue and electoral campaigns I have provided policy analysis, developed policy proposals and drafted legislative language in both state and federal contexts. That work includes translating community demands into legislation and translating legislation into language the community can understand.