Figure Out Your Next Step
You see something that could be better. What now?
You don't need to be a policy expert or understand every part of government.
Use these resources to understand the problem, find what already exists, identify who can act, and take the next step yourself.
Start wherever you are:
🔎 Understand the Problem
🗺️ Find What's Already There
📊 Find Reliable Information
🏛️ Find Who Controls It
📜 Research Policy
💡 Develop Your Idea
📣 Take Civic Action
🤝 Find Partners
🌱 Build Something
🔎 Understand the Problem
Before trying to fix something, understand what's actually happening.
Start by asking:
What is happening?
Who is affected?
How widespread is it?
What might be causing it?
What information are we missing?
What would "better" actually look like?
PTC Resources
→ Community Needs Guide
→ Community Mapping Guide
If you need evidence, continue to Find Reliable Information below.
🗺️ Find What's Already There
You may not need to create something new.
Look for:
Nonprofits
Community organizations
Government programs
Schools and universities
Public resources
Local businesses
Coalitions
Existing community projects
PTC Resources
→ Community Mapping Guide
→ Find Local Partners
Try searching:
"[issue] nonprofit [city]"
"[issue] coalition [state]"
"[issue] government program [city]"
"[issue] university [state]"
"[issue] community organization [city]"
Before starting something new, ask:
"Who is already working on this, and what would actually help?"
📊 Find Reliable Information
Use credible information to understand the issue before making claims about it.
Population & Community Data
U.S. Census Bureau
Population, demographics, households, communities, and economic information.
Census Data
Search Census datasets for your community.
Housing
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Housing programs, research, homelessness resources, housing policy, and community development.
Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public-health research, statistics, datasets, and health information.
Also search your state and local health department for information specific to your community.
Environment
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental data and information involving air, water, pollution, chemicals, land, environmental justice, and regulation.
Education
U.S. Department of Education
Education information, research, programs, and federal education resources.
For local information, also search your:
State Department of Education
School District
School Board
Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
Transportation programs, policy, infrastructure, safety, and data.
https://www.transportation.gov/
Also look for your local or regional:
Transportation department
Transit agency
Metropolitan Planning Organization
Jobs & Economy
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Employment, wages, occupations, inflation, labor-force information, and economic data.
Food & Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food systems, agriculture, nutrition programs, rural development, and agricultural resources.
One Important Research Rule
Don't search only for information that proves your idea.
Ask:
What does the evidence actually show?
Look for information that supports and challenges your assumptions.
Better information creates better solutions.
🏛️ Find Who Controls It
Not every problem is controlled by Congress—or even by government.
The decision-maker might be a:
School
School Board
City
County
State
Federal Government
Planning Commission
Transit Authority
Utility or Utility Regulator
Government Department
Public Agency
Other Institution
PTC Resource
→ Who Controls What?
Find Your Elected Officials
USA.gov provides official resources for finding federal, state, and local elected officials.
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Find State & Local Governments
Use the USA.gov state and local government directory.
https://www.usa.gov/state-local-governments
Find Federal Agencies
Search federal departments and agencies here:
https://www.usa.gov/agency-index
📜 Research Policy & Government
Before asking government to create something new, find out what already exists.
Look for:
Existing laws
Local ordinances
Regulations
Government programs
Current legislation
Budgets
Planning documents
Previous studies
Meeting agendas
Public hearings
PTC Resource
→ How to Research Policy & Government
Federal Legislation
Congress.gov
Search bills, laws, members of Congress, committees, and legislative activity.
Understand How Federal Legislation Works
Congress.gov explains the federal legislative process here:
https://www.congress.gov/legislative-process
State Legislation
Congress.gov maintains links to official state legislature websites:
https://www.congress.gov/state-legislature-websites
Choose your state and search its official legislative website for:
Bills • Committees • Legislators • Hearings • Calendars • Votes
Federal Regulations
Regulations.gov
Find federal regulatory actions and opportunities for public participation.
Federal Register
Find proposed rules, final rules, notices, and other federal government actions.
https://www.federalregister.gov/
Government Spending
USAspending.gov
Explore federal government spending.
Local Policies & Decisions
For local issues, search for your official:
City government
County government
School district
Planning department
Transit agency
Then look for:
Meetings
Agendas
Minutes
Public Comment
Codes & Ordinances
Budgets
Plans
Departments
Boards & Commissions
Try searching:
"[Your city] official government"
"[Your county] official government"
"[Your school district] school board"
"[Your city] municipal code"
"[Your city] meeting agenda"
💡 Develop Your Idea
You don't need to write legislation.
Start by turning:
"Someone should fix this."
into:
"Here's the problem, what we found, a possible solution, and what we're asking for."
Use this process:
Problem
↓
Evidence
↓
What's Already There
↓
What's Missing
↓
Possible Solution
↓
Who Has Authority
↓
Specific Request
↓
Next Step
PTC Resource
→ Turn an Idea Into a Proposal
📣 Take Civic Action
Once you understand the issue and know who has authority, decide what you're actually asking for.
You might ask someone to:
Look into an issue
Meet with community members
Connect you with the correct department
Fund something
Change an existing practice
Consider a pilot program
Review an existing policy
Consider an ordinance or resolution
Consider legislation
Hold a public discussion or hearing
PTC Resources
→ Civic Action Toolkit
→ Take Civic Action
The toolkit includes help with:
✉️ Emails
☎️ Phone calls
🏛️ Meeting requests
🗣️ Public comments
📨 Follow-ups
📄 One-page proposals
🗣️ Participate in Public Meetings
Many important decisions happen in meetings most residents never attend.
Look for:
City Council Meetings
County Commission Meetings
School Board Meetings
Planning Commission Meetings
Legislative Committee Hearings
Budget Hearings
Public Workshops
Agency Hearings
Search:
"[Your government] meeting calendar"
Then check:
Agenda • Date • Location • Public-comment rules • Speaking limits • Registration deadlines
PTC Resources
→ Public Comment Guide
→ Meeting Guide
🤝 Find Partners
You don't have to work alone.
Look for:
Residents
Community organizations
Nonprofits
Schools
Universities
Researchers
Local businesses
Professional organizations
Existing coalitions
Government programs
PTC Resources
→ Find Local Partners
→ Outreach Templates
→ Community Mapping Guide
Start the conversation with:
"Are you already working on this, and what would actually be helpful?"
Collaboration is usually better than unnecessarily rebuilding something that already exists.
🌱 Build Something Locally
Sometimes the best first step isn't legislation.
It might be:
A community garden.
A resource exchange.
A transportation pilot.
A school partnership.
A volunteer program.
A neighborhood event.
A community space.
A small local project.
Start small.
Learn what works.
Document what doesn't.
Then improve it.
PTC Resources
→ Community Project Ideas
→ Project Planner
→ Find Local Partners
→ Become a Community Collaborator
Not Sure Where to Start?
Follow this path.
1. Do you understand the problem?
NO
→ Community Needs Guide
YES ↓
2. Do you know what's already being done?
NO
→ Community Mapping Guide
YES ↓
3. Do you have reliable evidence?
NO
→ Find Reliable Information
YES ↓
4. Do you know who can actually change it?
NO
→ Who Controls What?
YES ↓
5. Do you know what you're asking for?
NO
→ Turn an Idea Into a Proposal
YES ↓
6. Choose Your Next Step
The community can build it.
→ Project Planner
You need partners.
→ Find Local Partners
An institution or government needs to act.
→ Civic Action Toolkit
You Don't Have to Fix Everything
Start with one thing.
Understand the problem.
Find what's already there.
Use reliable information.
Identify the gap.
Find who has the ability to act.
Choose one realistic next step.
Then share what you learn so another community doesn't have to start from zero.