>> SLIDE 1 The National Council on Independent Living presents – Elevate Campaign Training Your Story, Your Campaign, & Your Brand Online June 17, 2019; 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT Presented by: Atima Omara, Principal Omara Strategy Group LLC NCIL Logo: National Council on Independent Living >> SLIDE 2 Agenda - The need to have an answer as to “why” you are running for office. - The importance of your personal story to launching a meaningful campaign that resonates with your community - How the foundation of your story shapes your campaign message - How do digital media tools help you brand you and your campaign - The importance of having a digital presence as a candidate: Your web site, Facebook, Twitter, etc. >> SLIDE 3 What Is Story of Self? Who Are You? Why have you been called to what you have been called to? Everyone has a story that got him her involved in a given cause. And that given cause or others like it is why many run for office. - What’s your story? -- Growing up with a disability -- An immigrant or from an immigrant family -- Experience with racism/and or sexism -- Economic struggles >> SLIDE 4 What Office? - When you know your story of self, you can answer the key questions: Why run for office? Which office? Which district? - As a result of your story are you: - Are you an advocate for education? Care about the quality of education in your district? Its funding priorities? Maybe even active in some school related committees—School Board - Do you care about real estate development in your neighborhood? How safe streets are? Transportation?–City/County Office >> SLIDE 5 What District? Does Your Story Resonate With The District In Which You Live? Answering questions on your story, the office, and why you are running will help you define the candidate you will be It will be the foundation for: - Stump Speech - Platform - Press Releases & Campaign Messaging >> SLIDE 6 Good Examples of Narrative for Public Office Image: Headshot of John Edwards “I believe in an America where the son of a mill worker could actually beat the son of a president for the White House. That's the America I will fight for”-- John Edwards, US Senator & 2004 Presidential VP nominee Bio: grew up in a working class rural North Carolina family and used that as his narrative as to why he worked as a trial lawyer fighting against companies who took advantage of the less fortunate and built on his campaign >> SLIDE 7 Good Examples of Narrative for Public Office, Continued Image: Headshot of Ayanna Pressley “The people closest to the pain should be closest to the power” --Ayanna Pressley Bio: grew up in a working class family with a mother who worked multiple jobs as a single parent. Father, a teacher also suffered from drug addiction was incarcerated. Pressley is also a survivor of sexual violence. >> SLIDE 8 Good Examples of Narratives: Tammy Duckworth for Senate Image: Screenshot of YouTube video shows people in an audience. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9V-df3UHq4 >> SLIDE 9 Bad Example: Ted Kennedy for President 1979 Image: Screenshot of YouTube video shows Ted Kennedy. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6qLFAnBIFg >> SLIDE 10 Building Your Brand - Preparing a run for office means you will have to present yourself to the public on what you stand for through media and digital media -- Letters to the Editor -- Opinion editorials -- Blog Posts -- Radio/Podcasts/TV -- Website -- Facebook -- Twitter >> SLIDE 11 Traditional Media Build your brand through expertise. Get your name out there on issues important to your area - Write letters to the editor in response to articles in local papers on issues relevant in your community - Write and pitch an op-ed or two to your local paper on issues you care about and are important to the community - Write a blog post on issues you care about for blogs frequented by those in the community >> SLIDE 12 Digital Media - Facebook (Public Profile): Ideal for posting long-form posts on issues, Facebook livestream hosting Q&As; post when you attend community events, recognize important holidays, eventually campaign materials and events go up here - Twitter: Recommended for posting: tweet about thoughts, ideas, news articles, eventually campaign press releases, endorsements, blog posts and event alerts - Campaign Website: Must Have. Collection of everything that your campaign represents: policies, how to volunteer, attend events, where to donate, press statements >> SLIDE 13 Campaign Website Example Screenshot of Cheri Bustos for U.S. Congress website >> SLIDE 14 Website Examples, Continued Screenshot of Elise for Congress website >> SLIDE 15 Final Tips - Know your why for running for office - Your story and what you care about should direct for what office you run - Your story and eventual campaign message should resonate with a part of your community - Running for office next year or in two years? Start building your online brand now - Digital Must Haves: a website, Facebook, and twitter account >> SLIDE 16 Contact Information Atima Omara: info@omarastrategy.com >> SLIDE 17 Questions & Answers Use the Q&A feature in the Zoom toolbar to type your question. You may also type your question in the chat box on the CART screen at http://www.streamtext.net/player?event=NCIL-IGNITE >> END PRESENTATION