P3 (Prevention Institute): Media advocacy training to advance park equity across the nation
Date: April 26, 2023
People, Parks, and Power (P3) is the first national funding initiative in the U.S. to support power building by community-based organizations to reverse park and green space inequities in Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities across the country. This initiative is led and managed by the Prevention Institute. P3 aims is to advance park and green space equity and in order to accomplish this goal they must think strategically. In this training, BMSG helped equip P3 grantees with storytelling and media advocacy skills needed to describe their work and the impact of their programs in a compelling way. Strategic communication requires communicators and storytellers to have a clear vision of what they want to change in the world, so they are better able to position their programs as main actors in creating that change.
The online training pictured to the left was the first in a two-part series, the next training took place in person in Oakland, California. 14 grantee groups from across the nation met and focused
on public speaking and communication strategy.
Park equity is an issue that touches multiple communities and the P3 grantees work relentlessly to make sure that parks are accessible, not only in affluent areas, but all areas. Having safe and accessible parks creates a ripple effect that has the power to touch generations. The conference was filled with influential speakers like Taj James who spoke about the history and deeper meaning of parks and park equity. Grantees gathered across tables and practiced their media interviewing skills. Some had never had a media interview while others were more seasoned allowing for grantees a space to learn from each other.
BMSG trainers Rosaura Wardsworth and Shaddai Martinez-Cuestas held space with grantees for a 2-hour training. Within the training grantees got the opportunity to ask questions about handling difficult questions as well as how to pitch newsworthy stories to reporters. Cuestas-Martinez took a moment during the training to break down the component of a message. Focusing heavily on values based messages with a clear solution.
The conference was also filled with roundtable strategy sessions led by BMSG. The conference ultimately served as a safe space for grantees and consultants to gather and have a meeting of the minds, leaving all in attendance invigorated and excited for the years ahead.
