Advocacy leaders gather for +Policy Lab, led by Suzanne Skjold and Melissa Pavlicek
Photo courtesy: Suzanne Skjold
By: Suzanne Skjold
The Advocacy Leadership + Policy Lab (known as +PolicyLab) invited leaders from organizations highly active in community advocacy and public policy to come together to learn, collaborate, and build priorities and capacities to support Hawaiʻi’s residents as they face unprecedented cuts and financial pressures.
Participating organizations include Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, Hawaiʻi Public Heath Institute, Common Cause Hawaiʻi, and Holomua Collaborative. Monthly half-day sessions focused on capacity building for advocacy organizations and individual participants; intentionally building collaborative relationships among new and existing advocacy leaders; and providing facilitation, shared resources, and space to strategize on seemingly intractable policy issues like housing, tax policy, and governance.
In 2025, +PolicyLab was led by Fellow Suzanne Skjold, in partnership with Melissa Pavlicek from Hawaiʻi Public Policy Advocates. Fellow Joshua Wisch also participated.
Left: Cohort I Fellow Josh Wisch of Holomua Collective and Annie Fredrick of HAPA, with Suzanne Skjold and Melissa Pavlicek
Right: Annie Fredrick leads a mapping activity for advocacy leaders at +PolicyLab, December 2025
Photos courtesy: Suzanne Skjold
+PolicyLab will continue into the 2026 Legislative session, with all participating organizations returning for five additional gatherings to build upon shared commitments to action, including use of a new bill tracker provided by Hawaiʻi Leadership Forum.
Here are some reflections from +PolicyLab participants:
“A space like this is not typical. We had the opportunity to lean in and it was incredibly validating and uplifting. The Lab sessions are the highlight of the month for me.”
“It is great to share a space with others who are mission-oriented, deepen relationships, and collaborate on innovative ideas and reimagining things, and share candidly and strategize on priorities.”
“What I really appreciated about this group was someone could have a different opinion or disagree, but the great energy in the room kept going. The discussions were candid and authentic.”
This story appears in the January/February 2026 issue of Taking on Tomorrow.
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