Douglas Gould and Company is a strategic communications firm dedicated to helping progressive nonprofit organizations and foundations use communications tools to advance important causes.

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Resources

Douglas Gould and Company has produced a variety of original research and resources to support the work of advocates working on issues ranging from community colleges to economic justice and from arts education to child advocacy.

Please feel free to download the resources below and integrate our research into your work. If you would like more information about our research or any of our resources, please feel free to contact us.

Our resources are organized into the following issue areas:

If you are looking for older or historical resources, please feel free to contact us and we can provide you with a copy.

 

Arts Education Resources

Arts Education is critical and must be a central part of every student’s education. Douglas Gould and Company has created the following arts education resources to support advocates and professionals working on arts education-related issues.

Get Schooled in Arts Education Policy and 21st Century Skills!
October 2010
DG&Co. built a toolkit to help parents, educators, business leaders and community members learn about new legislation and issues important to arts education.

Winning School Board Support for Arts Learning -- A Toolkit for Action!
January 2010
DG&Co. created this toolkit to provide strategies and tactics to help advocates present a strong case for the arts to the key decision makers -- local school boards.

Focus Group Research Findings Parents for the Arts
April 2009
DG&Co. commissioned research on behalf of the Ford Foundation to propel advocacy for arts in schools and arts integration. This advisory includes our findings and provides messages for empowering parents to speak out in favor of arts learning.

We Need Arts to Leave No Child Behind
January 2008
This toolkit was created to provide arts education advocates with the research, resources and tools needed to harness NCLB's stance on arts education to ensure their schools include arts in the curriculum.

Media Paints Art in Fading Light
September 2005
A media analysis commissioned by the Education Commission of States (ECS) highlights key themes and recommendations for projecting a more favorable image of arts education through the media. The central finding is that arts education is portrayed in today's media as disappearing from public school classrooms across the country, particularly as more emphasis is placed on standardized testing.

Community College Resources

Community colleges are engines for educational opportunities and are a path to college or a good job for millions of Americans. Douglas Gould and Company has created the following resources to help those advocating for community colleges across the country.

Advocacy Navigator for Community Colleges
2009
DG&Co. created this full suite of communications services to help community colleges develop compelling stories that support advocacy for funding and policy change. It offers solutions at a time when policymakers are desperate to save local economies.

Make the Case for California Community Colleges
2009
We worked with Harris Interactive and the Neimand Collaborative on statewide opinion research and message development in California that resulted in a primer for community college advocacy. The primer offers messages that advance the unique value of community colleges, especially in a time of unprecedented economic strife and consequent budget cuts.

Don't Let Downturn Get You Down
January 2009
Read Doug's commentary on the important role community colleges play in economic success published in Community College Times, from the issue dated January 16, 2009.

Bridges to Opportunity for Underprepared Adults: A State Policy Guide for Community College Leaders
2008
This publication by the Ford Foundation provides concrete policy and practice guidance for community colleges systems, stakeholders and advocates for low-income workers and their families.

International Development & Human Rights Resources

The world continues to become an increasingly small place but vast disparities still exist between the individuals who can access basic necessities and those who cannot. Douglas Gould and Company has created resources to help advocates concerned about the following international development and human rights issues.

Immigration on the Air: A Scan of Broadcast News and Commentary Programming
Fall 2008
Broadcast coverage - from 24-hour news channels to talk radio - has played a central role in shaping the public discourse around immigration. We conducted a media analysis of broadcast coverage of immigration to take a close look at how the topic was treated by national radio and television news and commentary shows and on popular local stations in a few cities across the country.

 

Education & Child Advocacy

All children must have access not just to basic necessities but also have a full range of educational and economic opportunities. Douglas Gould and Company has created the following resources to help guide conversations and aid advocates working on behalf of children.

Solutions Storytelling Messages for Mobilizing Advocates around Children’s Issues
May 2010
Together with the Topos Partnership, DG&Co. completed a groundbreaking survey for the Child Advocacy 360 Foundation. This study gives us a wealth of guidance based on innovative research that will support communications on behalf of children.

We Need Arts to Leave No Child Behind
January 2008
This toolkit was created to provide arts education advocates with the research, resources and tools needed to harness NCLB's stance on arts education to ensure their schools include arts in the curriculum.

Talking Learning Disabilities
A resource to help advocates frame their messages in ways that will mobilize support for children with learning disabilities and enact helpful public policies.

Health

Across the country, millions of Americans cannot access the medical care they need to get and stay healthy. Douglas Gould and Company has created the following resources to support advocates working on health and health care issues.

Medicare Advocates Ready for Anticipated Legislation
January 2007
PR Week highlights the on and offline efforts of the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

Religion

Progressive religious institutions and individuals are champions of social change of all kinds, yet their contributions can be overlooked. Douglas Gould and Company has created the following resources to help progressive people of faith and progressive religious institutions.

Religion Media Analysis: A Study of Trends in Media Coverage
January 2008
A media analyses funded by the Ford Foundation studying trends in the coverage of religion. Read how American media covered religious topics and contributed to shaping public perceptions of religion.

Workforce Development & Economic Justice

Creating economic opportunity for low-income people is essential to the missions of many progressive nonprofit organizations and foundations. Douglas Gould and Company has created the following resources for advocates working to achieve economic justice or build workforce development initiatives.

Working Press
December 2006
This media analysis, funded by the Ford Foundation, highlights the progress made by advocates and others on how low wage work is presented. The analysis also identifies areas where improvements could be made.

For an Economy That Works for All
2002–2006
This resource was developed to raise public awareness about the barriers facing low-wage workers. It is designed to build the communications capacities of advocates who fight on behalf of low-wage workers at the local level.