Supporting Wellness Minutes

September 17. 2004

12:00-2:00 p.m.

Present: Ruthie Gray, Co-Chair Nisaa Madyun, Co-Chair

Roland Holmes Bowen Chung

Susan Stockdale Kerry Hickey

Katy Minnium Sarah Starks

Tammy Moore Kim Hardy

Katia Daher-Annenberg Fonda Whitfield

Armond Anderson-Bell Ken Wells

Andrea Jones, minutes

• Welcome/Introductions: There were several new people present: Tammy Moore and Fonda Whitfield, AADAP, Kim Hardy, Mental Health, Armond Anderson-Bell, Minority Aids Project, and Kerry Hickey, who is Dr. Wells’ new assistant. We also had a speaker, Deane Leavenworth, from Time-Warner Cable.

• Speaker: Deane Leavenworth is an executive at Time-Warner Cable. He has extensive experience in how to talk to the press. He was invited to speak to the Supporting Wellness Working Group about media relations by Bowen Chung. Bowen explained to him about our project. The following is a brief report of Mr. Leavenworth’s presentation:

1) There are three kinds of organizations: Non-profit, Profit, and For-profit.

2) There are funders who need projects and projects that need funding.

3) Rules for working with the media and elected officials:

a. Always return calls.

b. Respect their deadlines.

c. Always tell the truth.

4) The 5 Elements of Advocacy are:

a. Public Relations-Do good things and tell people about it.

b. Media Relations-Answer the phone and return all calls.

c. Community Relations-Identify and work with those whose interest matches or overlaps with yours.

d. Government Relations-Persistent patience: Keep pushing. Understand their need and motivation to help their constituents.

e. Corporate Relations-Marketing is exchanged at mutual benefit—Why does it benefit that corporation?

5) Don’t just seek grants--build a relationship with the organization. Get them involved in your issue.

6) Leavenworth’s Law: The most powerful person in the private sector is the person who can say yes. The most powerful person in the public sector is the person that can say no.

7) When you advocate through the media, remember this: The press will have more time to devote to your cause than television.

8) Don’t advocate for the problem, advocate for the solution. Example: A recent study at a major university stated that African-American children watched more TV than other children and they were more obese. So, TV causes obesity in those children. False. What if they were reading instead of playing? They would still be fat. Instead of focusing on the problem, someone looked for a solution. Bingo! There was no safe place for these kids to play, so they advocated for a park.

9) Voices can be heard whispering as well as yelling. Invite county, assembly members, council members, senators, etc. They won’t all come, but you are introducing yourself and letting them know what you are doing. Let the media and elected officials know you are a trusted resource; you are the person to talk to, and they will call you when they want or need something or need input on issues.

10) Be reliable, relevant, reasonable, well spoken, and concise: This is the problem, this is the solution, and this is what we want you to do. Ask them what they can do, and give them a reason to do it.

11) Remember staff can get to the person even when you can’t, so be nice! Meet the audience where they are, but don’t lose your focus.

12) Finally, know the issue, personalize it, learn about the official, be honest and straightforward, polite but persistent, have material to leave, wear comfortable shoes, and when you don’t know, admit it. If you constantly get a recording, or your calls are not returned, look for someone who knows them better, or get your information together and write or fax them. Never take too much blame or give too much credit. Always look out for the opportunity to help someone else.

Mr. Leavenworth suggested that we have someone in the group to watch TV. Someone’s doing something on depression—follow through on that. For Public Service Announcements (PSA’s), he suggested calling the appropriate person and just saying we need some time. We may be able to get cheap deals on advertising because of who we are. We can also try to get a station or industry to support us. One idea: The Trauma Center/Hospital closing: Piggyback on that. Let it be known where HAAF stands. When dealing with the press, call each station. The features editor is responsible for the calendar. The assignment editor: tomorrow; the planning editor: two weeks. For a press release, try sending it at midnight. You have to work at it, especially if it’s not visual.

• The Stakeholder Letter: The stakeholder letter was mistakenly sent out with several errors, so Andrea Jones will call Marvin Southard’s office immediately after the meeting to try to have the letter disposed of unopened. Corrections will be made and it will be re-sent.

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) will be sending a representative out here on November 16. RWJ sponsors the Clinical Scholars program. Kavita Patel and Bowen Chung (both Clinical Scholars) will do a presentation for them. One community representative from each Working Group will also be a part of a presentation. We are also requesting the NIMH to continue funding.

• Proposition 63: Does the group want Proposition explained by someone who knows? Vote: yes. Dr. Wells will set that up.

• Nisaa Madyun: Nisaa Madyun, one of our co-chairs, announced that she would be getting off the bus for a while. She has a very busy schedule, but will keep in touch, and will be back on the bus as soon as her schedule permits. We will miss you, Nissa!

• Next meeting: Friday, October 15, 2004 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the HAAF office, 3856 W. Martin Luther King Blvd. Suite 209, Los Angeles, CA 90008.