Having a good idea alone is not enough to get things done in Washington. Success requires the ability to understand the big picture, to see the political and recognize the practical. It requires not only imagination and strategy but also the persuasive ability to get others to embrace your views.

Over the years, Bracy Tucker Brown & Valanzano has mastered the ability to analyze issues, identify diverse interests with common goals — often helping those interests recognize commonalities they may never have known — and then develop strategies using coalitions and grassroots efforts to achieve success.

Although no two advocacy efforts are exactly alike, our team approach to problem solving often uses such specialties of the firm as:

• Coalition building
• Media relations
• Public education
• Packaging and disseminating information
• Building and managing grassroots constituencies
• Issue briefings and presentations

Public opinion research and analysis For example, Bracy Tucker Brown & Valanzano formed and administers the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance, a coalition of social service agencies, non-profit organizations and utilities advocating continuation of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides emergency assistance to help the poor, elderly and disabled pay their utility bills.

When the House Appropriations Committee "zeroed out" funding for LIHEAP in 1998, the Campaign conducted a grassroots campaign – including editorial board meetings, news conferences, letters to the editor, op-eds, personal
visits by advocates with members of Congress and a website — that led to restoration of $1.1 billion for LIHEAP.

Subsequently, Congress not only has continued to provide funding for LIHEAP but has also approved supplemental appropriations providing emergency heating and cooling assistance for the poor and elderly.