COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY ABOUT BUDGET PRIORITIES, TAX POLICIES AND THE GOVERNMENT

As you know, our nation now faces one of the most devastating economic times since the Great Depression. In Massachusetts, 9C cuts in FY 09 and impending cuts in the FY 10 budget have exacerbated the crisis.

These funding cuts put at risk the public structures that we all rely on and value, the public structures that make us a competitive state - attracting and keeping businesses and residents. We need to learn how to talk about these budget and revenue decisions in a way that is understandable to all, and to start seeking ways to address them as a group.

How we talk about these issues, and about government itself, can dramatically change our  conversations and help to rebuild people's confidence in what we can accomplish together.

At our next Insider Budget Briefing, Patrick Bresette will help us explore ways to communicate more effectively about public policy issues, to better engage our communities, and to move our friends and neighbors to create positive social and economic change.

Join us on Thursday, January 22nd at 5:30pm in the 9th floor conference room at 30 Winter Street. In addition to Patrick Bresette's presentation and Q&A session, the evening will feature:

• A Brief Introduction to the ONE Massachusetts Network
  Yawu Miller - Project Director, ONE Massachusetts

• An Update on the Current Fiscal Situation in Massachusetts
  Noah Berger - Executive Director, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center