Program areas at LEAP
Media - . In 2023, leap speakers contributed op eds, quotes, news mentions, and generations in top tier traditional media publications, including outlets with extensive reach like the Washington post, the hill, cnn, and the guardian, as well as regional publications that have amplified our legislative initiatives and issue areas across the particular state, like the oc register (ca), penn live (pa), the daily northwestern (il), detroit news, and the san francisco chronicle. There was also extensive coverage in prominent industry outlets like marijuana moment, cannabiswire, and tobacco reporter. Our work around the menthol tobacco ban was the main policy area of conversation in 2023, with fentanyl sentencing and general drug legalization being other notable areas of legislative and issue commentary. The majority of our work in 2023 had media impacts in California and Michigan, with a variety of topics centering around fentanyl sentencing and pretextual traffic stops, to the menthol tobacco ban and use of force standard, respectively.
Community responder project - we spoke one-on-one with officials from 21 cities to help advise them on creating a civilian first responder program for low-risk 911 calls, which we call a "community responder model." We contracted with the city of evanston, Illinois and the city of northampton, Massachusetts to design a locally-tailoredcommunity responder program.
Speaker's bureau - the program department researched, recruited, and trained 4 new speakers, who are police, prosecutors, sheriffs, and judges. The department also made new connections with representatives from 35 ally organizations to inform them about how leap speakers can support their efforts. Leap's volunteer Law Enforcement speakers were featured at 30 in-person events and hearings held by ally organizations, legislators, and other event hosts, and made another 19 phone calls to legislators and virtual presentations. On another 53 occasions, leap speakers delivered written testimony, wrote letters to key officials, and submitted amicus briefs.