MCE Summit Award Competition Guide

Millennial Civic EngagementSummit Competition Guide Charlotte, North Carolina August 24-26, 2012

1875 K Street NW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20006 Office: 202.642.4320 Fax: 202.729.8100 www.Mobilize.org Competition Guide In 2008 we saw an unprecedented increase in Millennial voter turnout, where nearly two million more Americans under the age of 30 voted in the election as compared to 2004. As Millennials, we are asking ourselves: What does Millennial voter engagement look like for our Generation in the 2012 Election and beyond?All civically active Millennials in California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania are invited tosubmit their ideas for the 2012 Mobilize.org Millennial Civic Engagement Summit. Using the GOOD Makerplatform, Millennials can crowdsource their ideas online and vote on the most innovative civic engagementwork taking place across the country. The semi-finalists who receive the most votes through this onlinecompetition will be invited to attend the Millennial Civic Engagement Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina onAugust 24 – 26, 2012, where they will work collaboratively with their peers to further develop sustainable,community-based solutions for the 2012 Election and beyond.Projects are based on these four principles: potential social impact, creativity and innovation, sustainability,and use of new and social media communications. Prior to the summit, Mobilize.org will select 2 proposalsfrom each state, and invite up to 2 members of their team who proposed to compete in the SummitCompetition. In addition, Mobilize.org will select individual applicants to attend the summit and have thechance to become a Mobilizer 2012 blogger. Visit www.Mobilize.org/MCESummit to learn more.The Summit Competition is held on the final day of the summit and each competitor has five minutes topresent their idea to summit participants. The projects receiving the top votes will win Mobilize.org Awards; ashare of $25,000 in financial investments and expert support from our staff and extensive partner network.Winners will be selected by their peers who will use their personal interactive keypads to vote on each projectaccording to the following criteria:  Potential Social Impact – how well the project addresses a particular student issue or academic barriers students face in a local community.  Creativity and Innovation – how well the project is customized to address a community’s need in a new or unique way.  Sustainability – how likely is the project to last long enough to fully address the student issue/ academic barrier identified in the proposal.  Use of New and Social Media Communications – how well the project uses technology and social media as a catalyst for social impact. Mobilize.org empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to social problems.

1875 K Street NW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20006 Office: 202.642.4320 Fax: 202.729.8100 www.Mobilize.org Proposal ScopeMobilize.org invests in sustainable, community-based solutions developed and led by Millennials. Competitionproposals should be comprised of innovative programs that increase civic engagement on a local or regionallevel and target the Millennial Generation (those born between 1976 - 1996).Mobilize.org is an all-partisan, non-profit organization and therefore Summit Competition submissions shouldnot include the following activities:  Propaganda or otherwise attempt to influence specific legislation either by direct or grassroots lobbying (see below for definitions of lobbying terms): o Direct lobbying is defined as communication with a legislator that expresses a view about specific legislation. o Grassroots lobbying is defined as communication with the public that expresses a view about specific legislation and includes a call to action.  Specific voter-registration drive that is conducted in a manner that favors a particular candidate or slate of candidates.  Intervention in (including publishing or distribution of statements) any campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.  Make Awards to individuals or organizations.Communication: a conversation (in person or by phone), letter, email, fax, or other creative mechanism to convey amessage.Legislator: a member of a legislative body or his/her staff. In addition, executive branch officials who participate in theformulation of legislation are considered legislators (such as the governor or mayor when vetoing or signing a bill).Members of administrative bodies, however, such as school boards, sewer and water districts, housing authorities, zoningboards, and other special purposes bodies, whether elected or appointed, are not considered legislators.Public: anyone but a legislator or member of an organization. Communications to an organization’s members areconsidered direct lobbying. For this purpose, a member is someone who has given more than a small amount of time ormoney to the organization.Expresses a view about specific legislation: a bill or resolution that has been introduced in a legislative body or proposedlegislation such as identifying a problem and presenting a specific solution to the problem. Specific legislation includesbudget appropriations and taxes, and attempts to influence the confirmation of judicial and executive branch nominees.Proposed legislation may qualify as specific legislation even if it has not yet been introduced, been written down, or evenfully fleshed out. Specific legislation does not include rulemakings / promulgation of regulations, executive orders,litigation, or attempts to enforce existing laws.Call to action: a specific means of encouraging the communication’s recipient to take lobbying action. A call to action mustcomprise one of the following actions: 1) tell the recipient to contact a legislator; 2) provide information on how therecipient can contact his/her legislator, such as providing the phone number or address; 3) provide a mechanism forenabling the recipient to contact his legislator, such as a postcard, petition, or email form; or 4) identify a legislator who willvote on the legislation as being opposed to or undecided about the organization’s view on the legislation, a member of alegislative committee who will vote on the legislation, or the recipient’s legislator.Ballot measure activity is considered direct lobbying. Although ballot measures, such as referenda, bond measures, andballot initiatives, are determined at the voting booth, efforts for or against them are considered direct lobbying, notimpermissible electoral activity. Efforts aimed at convincing the public to support or oppose ballot measures are directlobbying since the voting public serves as the legislature. Mobilize.org empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to social problems.

1875 K Street NW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20006 Office: 202.642.4320 Fax: 202.729.8100 www.Mobilize.org Tips for Planning a ProjectGetting Ready:  Research the background and demographic of the problem you would like to address.  Solicit opinions/advice from colleagues and community leaders  Research organizations doing similar projects on the national, state or local levels.  Create a list of experts in the field.  Identify tools or support you can find in similar organizations as well as potential partnerships/ mentorship opportunities.  Decide what makes your idea unique.Optimizing the projects potential: Potential Social Impact  What is the project’s goal? Who will it impact or help?  Why is the project important? (Identify the reasons, purpose and benefits for the project)  How will the project affect the community? Creativity and Innovation  How does the project uniquely address a local community issue that state or national organizations do not already address?  What elements will inspire others in the community to support and join the project?  How does the project build on the creative and innovative strengths of the team or individual? Sustainability  Who is involved with the project?  What does success look like for the project?  What does sustainability mean for the project?  How can the project be sustained until the goals are achieved?  How realistic/obtainable is the project?  When will the goals be reached? (Create a tentative timeline of what the project looks like)  What will the budget look like?  How will other funds be obtained if needed Use of New and Social Media Communications  How will you market your project?  What technological or social tools will you use to reach your audience and increase the projects potential for success?  How will you build your brand to last after the 2012 elections?Articulating the Plan:  Avoid titles that are overly cutesy/clever. The title should reflect your project’s goals.  Determine a clear and articulate mission  Avoid padding your proposal with jargon and buzzwords  Be real: provide context to your project  Set clear and tangible expectations for what summit participants will take away. Mobilize.org empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to social problems.

1875 K Street NW, 5th Floor Washington, DC 20006 Office: 202.642.4320 Fax: 202.729.8100 www.Mobilize.org Application ProcessTo apply for the Millennial Civic Engagement Summit, here’s what you need to do:  Submit your application with an idea for a local Millennial-led project to increase Millennial civic engagement, community participation, voter awareness and turnout. You can collaborate with your peers and a partner organization in your local community to develop a proposal, but one person must act as a designated representative and formally apply.  In your application, include a photo or video that represents your project idea. Photos should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format, at least 570 × 345 pixels and no larger than 10MB. To include a video, use a YouTube URL.  Approved applications will be featured on the GOOD Maker page and public voting will be open from June 11 to June 29. Rally your community to show their support by voting for your idea. Each supporter can vote once during the voting period.  The submission with the most votes will win an all-expense paid trip to attend the summit and a $500 starter fund to kick-off their idea.  At the summit, participants will refine their ideas and be able to compete for financial support and expert support from our staff and extensive partner network.  Proposals should be submitted using the GOOD Maker platform online at www.Mobilize.org/MCESummit. Dates + Deadlines FormatProposal Monday, June 11 at 9am ET / 12pm PT Online via GOOD MakerOnline Voting Monday, June 11– Friday, June 29 Online via GOOD Maker at 9am ET / 12pm PTFinalist Notifications Participants accepted to the Summit and Award Email Competition will be notified by Friday, June 29Final Presentation Saturday, August 25 at 10:00pm ET USB or Disc at Information Table in Hotel LobbyYou are encouraged to collaborate with your peers to develop a complete presentation before the summit (ex.PowerPoint, video or speech). A sample PowerPoint presentation will be shared with the Semi-Finalists prior tothe summit.Semi-Finalists should bring their completed proposal and presentation to the summit. A workshop will takeplace on Saturday, August 25 in the evening where you can practice your presentation and receive feedback.You will have the opportunity to make final edits to your presentation before submitting it to the Mobilize.orgTeam. Presentations will be checked for technological compatibility and uploaded for the Competitionbeginning the next morningTo see examples of past Mobilize.org Award Winners visit http://bit.ly/MobilizeInvestments and read about ourcurrent and past investments. Mobilize.org empowers and invests in Millennials to create and implement solutions to social problems.

MCE Summit Award Competition Guide

by Janessa Goldbeck

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