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Meaningful policy change starts long before a proposal comes to a vote. It begins with trusted relationships between community advocates and local leaders. As communities prepare for new opportunities and challenges following the 2026 elections, strong partnerships can help keep health and equity at the forefront of local decision-making. 

Join ChangeLab Solutions and the National League of Cities on October 22 at 10am PT / 1pm ET for a new webinar Beyond Election Day: Building Partnerships for Local Change, the latest addition to ChangeLab’s Accelerating Policy Change series. 

This session will feature local decision-makers and community advocates as they explore: 

• Building trust with local policymakers 
• Advancing policy change through effective engagement and collaboration 
• Navigating differing priorities, constraints, and perspectives 
• Creating lasting relationships that support healthier communities 

Register to join us for this free webinar. 

Have you led a successful public health or community-based program? Turning your program into policy is one of the most effective ways to sustain impact and create lasting change. We are offering Fundamentals of Local Policy Change, a two-hour focused training to build practical skills for turning your successful community-driven program into sustainable policy change, on Thursday, October 8. To help make our trainings more accessible to a broad range of participants, we offer discounted registration rates for students and nonprofit/government staff.  

Through our work supporting community-led efforts to improve health and well-being, we've heard partners consistently ask for additional training in public policy to help realize community goals. We designed this training to break down the local policy process and make it accessible to anyone working to create change, regardless of prior experience or formal policy training.

Led by our multidisciplinary team of policy analysts Hollie Storie and Tyra Satchell; planners Tina Ansong and Jessica Nguyen; and attorneys Jessica Breslin and Melani Tiongson, Fundamentals of Local Policy Change provides practical tools and strategies to help you advance the solutions your community needs. 

In this two-hour training, you’ll learn how to: 

• Turn successful programs and initiatives into codified policy
• Integrate meaningful community engagement into every stage of the policy process
• Understand the distinct roles of law and policy and when each can be most effective
• Determine the types of policies that fall within a local jurisdiction's authority
• Navigate the regulations distinguishing lobbying, education, and advocacy
• Clarify the roles that government, nonprofits, businesses, and community members play in advancing change

Included in the cost of training are digital handouts (including resources and related materials) and an optional one-hour follow-up session with ChangeLab staff to help you apply learnings to your work. Trainings are not recorded.

Can't make the training on Thursday, October 8? We have an additional session of Fundamentals of Local Policy Change scheduled for Wednesday, October 28.

Register now!

Have you led a successful public health or community-based program? Turning your program into policy is one of the most effective ways to sustain impact and create lasting change. We are offering Fundamentals of Local Policy Change, a two-hour focused training to build practical skills for turning your successful community-driven program into sustainable policy change, on Wednesday, October 28. To help make our trainings more accessible to a broad range of participants, we offer discounted registration rates for students and nonprofit/government staff.  

Through our work supporting community-led efforts to improve health and well-being, we've heard partners consistently ask for additional training in public policy to help realize community goals. We designed this training to break down the local policy process and make it accessible to anyone working to create change, regardless of prior experience or formal policy training.

Led by our multidisciplinary team of policy analysts Hollie Storie and Tyra Satchell; planners Tina Ansong and Jessica Nguyen; and attorneys Jessica Breslin and Melani Tiongson, Fundamentals of Local Policy Change provides practical tools and strategies to help you advance the solutions your community needs. 

In this two-hour training, you’ll learn how to: 

• Turn successful programs and initiatives into codified policy
• Integrate meaningful community engagement into every stage of the policy process
• Understand the distinct roles of law and policy and when each can be most effective
• Determine the types of policies that fall within a local jurisdiction's authority
• Navigate the regulations distinguishing lobbying, education, and advocacy
• Clarify the roles that government, nonprofits, businesses, and community members play in advancing change

Included in the cost of training are digital handouts (including resources and related materials) and an optional one-hour follow-up session with ChangeLab staff to help you apply learnings to your work. Trainings are not recorded.

Register now!

Boards of health play a vital role in protecting and improving community health. This October, we're excited to join board of health members, public health professionals, and partners from across the country at the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) 2026 Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

ChangeLab Solutions managing director Sara Bartel, senior attorney Jessica Breslin, and attorney Prashasti Bhatnagar will be presenting at the following sessions. We hope you'll join us!

In today's complex policy environment, changemakers need to know how to craft laws and policies that can withstand legal challenges.

Do you know who has authority to take action in your jurisdiction? Can you spot legal issues that could make your policy more vulnerable? Do you know when to consult an attorney and what questions to ask to assess legal risks and identify solutions?

Our new training, Navigating Legal Challenges, will help you answer these questions and more. Led by attorneys Jami Crespo, Katie Hannon Michel, and Melani Tiongson, this course draws on ChangeLab’s decades of experience helping communities shape laws and policies that improve health. Designed for professionals without a legal background, our training offers practical, accessible skills that are traditionally taught only in law school.

In this interactive 2-hour training you’ll gain:

• An understanding of legal authority, including where it comes from, how to find it, and how it shapes policymaking
• Insights into common legal issues, such as preemption and constitutional constraints that can influence policy selection and design
• Strategies for partnering with attorneys to navigate legal questions, assess risks, and determine potential paths forward
• Resources for continued learning and long-term skill development

Can't make the training on Thursday, September 24? We have an additional session of Navigating Legal Challenges scheduled for Wednesday, September 28.

Register now

In today's complex policy environment, changemakers need to know how to craft laws and policies that can withstand legal challenges.

Do you know who has authority to take action in your jurisdiction? Can you spot legal issues that could make your policy more vulnerable? Do you know when to consult an attorney and what questions to ask to assess legal risks and identify solutions?

Our new training, Navigating Legal Challenges, will help you answer these questions and more. Led by attorneys Jami Crespo, Katie Hannon Michel, and Melani Tiongson, this course draws on ChangeLab’s decades of experience helping communities shape laws and policies that improve health. Designed for professionals without a legal background, our training offers practical, accessible skills that are traditionally taught only in law school.

In this interactive 2-hour training you’ll gain:

• An understanding of legal authority, including where it comes from, how to find it, and how it shapes policymaking
• Insights into common legal issues, such as preemption and constitutional constraints that can influence policy selection and design
• Strategies for partnering with attorneys to navigate legal questions, assess risks, and determine potential paths forward
• Resources for continued learning and long-term skill development

Join us on Wednesday, September 30!

Register now