Expanded Course Outline

Video 1a. Course Introduction

Most people show up to government meetings after things have already been decided. This class is about changing that. Covers a primary challenge to your effectiveness, the two ways to engage, and what you will be more comfortable with by the end.

Video 1.b Educator vs. Lobbyist

The first way to engage is as an Educator: bring data and lived experience to help decision makers avoid bad choices. The second is direct lobbying: make a specific ask. Both are valid and needed at different times.

Reflection. Which role fits your issue?

Write 2 to 3 sentences describing an issue you care about and how you would frame it using the Educator approach. Read other's responses.

Video. It's All About Relationships

Relationships are the glue that makes both roles effective. Building connections with allies and committee staff before a critical vote works. Be a Listener. Be Remembered. Be Reliable.

Action Steps. Three things to do this week

Find and attend a public meeting just to listen. Identify one local organization and sign up for their updates. Find the public contact info for a key committee staffer and send a short positive note.

Video 3a. Preparing for meetings

How to find the right committee using community knowledge, the Nevada Committee database, and public records. How to read agendas and minutes. How to identify the four types of committees and tailor your approach.

Activity. Find your committee

Using the Nevada Committee database or your local government website, identify one real committee relevant to your work. Name it and describe what it does.

Video 3b. Preparing and Giving Testimony

When to speak. How to get something on an agenda. Scaling your response appropriately from a 60-second overview to a full community mobilization. The two-minute testimony structure and the three things not to do.

Written Assignment. Your Two-Minute Testimony

Using the four-part structure: Greeting, Who You Are, Main Point, Conclusion, write a full testimony on a topic you care about. We will send feedback and additional resources. This is the core deliverable of the course for CE credit.

Video 4a. Support, Influence, and Follow-Up

The public meeting is where decisions are ratified, not where they are made. Reliable follow-up is how you earn an invitation to earlier conversations. How to handle staff turnover. How to position yourself as a trusted resource over time.

Reflection. What would being trusted look like?

What would it look like to be a trusted resource on your issue? What is one step you can take after your first meeting to start building that reputation?

Video 4b. The Rules and Reasons

The rules live in Nevada Revised Statutes, the Administrative Code, City and County Codes, Robert's Rules of Order, and community norms. You do not need to read and understand them like a lawyer to participate... BUT know where they exist and how to look things up.

Research Challenge. Find your rulebook

Find the Nevada Legislature website for NRS or your local city or county website where they post their codes. Share the name of your committee and a few rules that apply to it.

Video 5. Conclusion

Consistency, relationship building, and preparation are the three qualities that build credibility over time. Your experience is your credential. Persistence beats perfection. Plus a preview of four ways to contribute beyond the techniques shared in this class.