Coalition for a Community:
ARC of Illinois
Challenge:
A budget cut of $76.3 million and elimination of critical programs was proposed within the Division of Developmental Disabilities budget.
Our challenge was to develop a engagement and outreach strategy to help advocate and alert Illinois legislators and policymakers about the critical need to continue to fund services geared towards keeping people with disabilities in their homes and communities.
Solution:
Morreale Communications developed and implemented a strategic communications and outreach strategy, that included branding elements, key messaging, Facebook page, and website, bringing awareness and media attention to the proposed cuts.
Highlights
A legislative campaign was deployed with a primary focus on senior staff in the Governor’s office and legislative leadership in the House and Senate that included legislative packets and lobbying kits containing a fact sheet, FAQ, and a legislative coffee invite.
A media campaign was executed to amplify the issue alongside the legislative efforts to inform and educate local and state media, including a statewide editorial board swing.
Morreale helped organize a unified statewide coalition and community outreach effort and organized an electronic petition drive that produced over 6,000 signatures of support, concluding with a rally with over 300 people that delivered the petitions to the Governor.
Result:
Full funding for critical services and all grants were restored. Key endorsements from the Chicago Sun-Times, State-Journal Register, Chicago Tribune, Pantagraph, and Rockford Register raised awareness about the crisis and put pressure on lawmakers. Success came from a combination of strategy and perseverance; however, the true strength was humanizing the issue and constant outreach to the media, legislators, and advocates.
