Pragmatic Activism is a strategic approach for creating social change that is sustainable for the long term.
The Grunin Foundation is hosting a Pragmatic Activism Virtual Event Series with Orville Morales, open to nonprofit leaders. This program is designed to strengthen advocacy capacity while helping organizations interpret and respond to New Jersey’s evolving legislative and policy landscape. Together, these sessions help nonprofit organizations strengthen their advocacy skills while staying informed about policy developments that may affect their work.
Pragmatic Activism is a strategic approach to social change that allows for intentional and reasonable action that is sustainable over time. Orville Morales, (Morales and Associates) teaches Pragmatic Activism using a six-phase approach. Orville will be touching on Phases 4, 5, and 6 during this webinar series.
Session 3: Dealing with Pushback (Role-Play & Practice – Phases 5 & 6) | October 8 from 1PM to 2:30PM
As organizations engage more actively in policy conversations, they may encounter skepticism, competing priorities, or direct opposition. Pragmatic Activism™ recognizes that these moments are a normal part of advocacy work and that effective advocates must be prepared to navigate them constructively.
This workshop bridges Phase 5 (Public Engagement) and Phase 6 (Triage of Engagement) by focusing on how to respond when conversations become difficult or when advocacy efforts encounter resistance. Through guided role-play scenarios and facilitated discussion, participants will practice strategies for reframing difficult exchanges, maintaining credibility, and keeping dialogue productive even when disagreements emerge.
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About the Facilitator
Orville Morales is the founder of Morales & Associates, L.L.C. and the creator of the Pragmatic Activism™ framework, a six-phase approach to advocacy capacity building used by nonprofit organizations and coalitions across New Jersey. Since 2019, he has trained more than 250 practitioners statewide and has partnered with the Grunin Foundation since 2023 to deliver advocacy capacity programs for the nonprofit community in Ocean and Monmouth County, NJ. In his professional practice, Orville serves as Director of Advocacy and Health Affairs for the New Jersey Dental Association, where he works daily at the intersection of health policy, legislative strategy, and community engagement — experience that directly informs the real-time policy intelligence he brings to every workshop and session. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
