With the decline of local media, citizens and community groups are often the last line of defence in ensuring transparency, holding local governments to account, and ultimately, protecting democratic institutions.

But few community organizations understand how to effectively advocate at City Hall.

We understand how City Hall works. We help community groups be effective advocates with their local government.

Having an impact on your local government begins with our guide, Advocacy and Accountability at City Hall: a Playbook for Citizens and Community Groups.

We believe that this open access Playbook is the single best handbook available for engaging with local governments, and achieving the outcomes you want from City Hall.

We have been able to create this Playbook and put it into the public domain thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor.

CitySHAPES provides community groups and advocates with three different half to full day training workshops on effective advocacy.

Define and Refine the Ask: learn how to articulate an ask that will get traction with City Hall, as well as with the broader community.

A Credible Plan to Succeed: understand how City Hall works, how to bring non-traditional partners to support your initiatives, and when, who and how to engage decision makers.

Help People Act with Impact: learn how to help your supporters be successful, as public speakers at City Hall meetings, in meetings and in front of the media.

CitySHAPES works hand-in-hand with community organizations to put the Playbook methodology into practice.

We help organizations craft powerful messages, define clear plans for success, and mobilize their supporters to act with impact.

CitySHAPES help organizations turn their advocacy efforts into a system with clear objectives and a shared game plan, in which individuals have a clear understanding of how their part in achieving those objectives.

“A total game-changer .“

Andrea Poncia, Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres

“I thought we were already good at this stuff. But wow! I learned so much that will make me a better advocate.“

Katie Burkholder Harris, Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa