Policy by the People

The Coalition believes that policy should be driven by the expressed desires of the people affected and leverage input from leaders of all ages, stages and backgrounds. There is unlimited wisdom and innovation among the United States constituency, but with the way our democracy currently operates, their voices go largely unheard.

IEL’s approach, Policy by the People, seeks to close the influence gap in the realm of public policy. We will transform policymaking—from a mysterious process engaging a select few, to an accountable, fully democratic process in which historically marginalized people who are the most impacted by policy decisions are driving policy innovations that reflect the true needs and will of their communities.

In 2020, we engaged hundreds of leaders across the United States and representing all our networks through online surveys and virtual focus groups to crystalize IEL’s policy priorities. These priorities are reflected in IEL’s Policy by the People agenda, which includes our recommendations for education, workforce development, and foundational supports. We invite you to advocate with us at the federal level for this agenda and to use this as a template for your state and local advocacy as it aligns with your state and local priorities. If you’d like to advocate with us for this agenda, please contact us at policy@iel.org.