Providing ongoing communications strategy and capacity for a leading California research organization
California Policy Lab (CPL), FAll 2024–Present
Project: Aglet Strategies provides ongoing communications strategy and hands-on support to the California Policy Lab (CPL), helping communicate a steady stream of research on some of California’s most pressing policy challenges.
Objective: Expand CPL’s communications capacity and turn complex research into clear, accessible communications that reach policymakers, journalists, government partners, funders, and the public.
Components: Working closely with CPL’s leadership, communications, and research teams, Aglet provides communications support across the organization’s research portfolio, including homelessness, employment, higher education, economic mobility, artificial intelligence and the workforce, public safety, and affordability.
Our work has included:
Developing communications strategies for major research releases and organizational initiatives.
Translating complex research findings and data into clear, accessible messaging, talking points, press materials, social media content, graphics, and videos.
Identifying compelling findings and storylines within new research and helping researchers communicate them accurately without losing important nuance.
Conducting targeted media outreach and building relationships with reporters covering California policy issues.
Preparing researchers for interviews through messaging development, media training, and individual interview preparation.
Developing op-eds, event materials, newsletters, website content, and other communications.
Helping plan and promote briefings, convenings, and events designed to bring research directly to policymakers and other key audiences.
Providing ongoing strategic counsel and additional communications capacity as new research, opportunities, and fast-moving issues arise.
Results: Through a multi-year partnership, Aglet has helped CPL expand the amount and range of research it can actively communicate to external audiences, while providing flexible communications capacity across multiple projects at once. Our work has helped CPL bring research findings to journalists, policymakers, government partners, and other audiences throughout California and nationally.
Just as importantly, the ongoing partnership allows Aglet to operate as an extension of CPL’s team: learning the research, understanding the organization’s voice and priorities, and moving quickly and strategically when new findings or communications opportunities emerge.