Trista Harris of FutureGood spoke to the Alliance for Early Success state allies as they gathered in Washington, DC, prior to meeting with their Congressional delegations on Capitol Hill. She challenged the group to apply futurism tools to early childhood advocacy, enabling them to engage both each other and policymakers in bold solutions. Harris likened this challenge to flying a plane across the country: we must define our destination (our bold solution), and futurism provides the tools to make mid-course corrections when stormy weather or shifting winds alter our flight path.
You can watch the presentation here, or read on for key take-ways.
During the session, Harris introduced her “Stop, Look, Go” framework, which aligns with futurism and offers clear steps for advocates to predict and shape the future. State allies can use this framework as a toolkit for addressing birth-to-eight issues while affirming the effective practices already in place in their advocacy work to create a different future.
STOP Loving The Problem
The first step involves a mindset shift regarding the issues at hand. Harris emphasized that focusing on the scale and scope of challenges can hinder progress. Often, convenings center on articulating the problems faced. To drive change, advocates should invert typical practices by decentering the problem and focusing on solutions. Effective communication is also vital for futurism. While it’s often easier to frame communications around the issues themselves, starting with a clear articulation of desired outcomes can lead to more impactful and sustainable solutions.
LOOK For Clues That Today Gives Us About Tomorrow
The second step in the framework promotes reflection and creating space for reimagining the future. Harris underscored the importance of learning from innovations in other fields and applying that knowledge to reflect on possibilities for one’s own work based on gathered evidence. Centering discussions around future possibilities can reshape mindsets, encouraging exploration of new ideas worth investing in. When engaging in self-reflection and planning for the future, organizations should maintain a strong set of values. While change is inevitable, a clear set of values can help organizations achieve their goals.
GO Do It!
In the final step of the framework, Harris emphasized the importance of getting others on board early in the process and keeping them engaged as you put what you are learning into action. She noted that challenges are escalating more quickly than our innovations can address them, highlighting the need for new ideas and approaches to disrupt this cycle. By fostering a culture of experimentation—where trying and testing new concepts is the norm—we can break free from stagnation.
Harris advocates for transparency in sharing experiences, whether successes or failures. Ultimately, embracing failure as a valuable learning opportunity can enhance the resilience of organizations as we move forward. These ideals illustrate the “Alliance Effect,” where collective learning among peers in the Alliance network drives progress. From strategically navigating failure to being intentionally adaptive, Harris provided practical tips for anyone interested in exploring advocacy from a future-focused perspective.
For a PDF of her book, Future Good, email alliance@earlysuccess.org.
