How can Community Outreach professionals engage with communities?

Make some SMARTIE goals around your engagement strategy. S: How will you STRATEGICALLY target that SPECIFIC population? M: How will you MEASURE your success? A: Do you have the resources to ACHIEVE this? R: Can you REALISTICALLY get this done? T: In what TIMEFRAME will I get this done? I: How can you INCLUSIVELY involve members of the community? E: How can you EQUITABLY address issues?

It is important to begin the work with community based organizations that are reflective of the community you are serving. In the professional realm as program implementers we have this unproven belief that we know what’s best for a community in reality, it’s those that are closest to the problem that are closest to the solutions! You must have community buy-in.

Take your time and each community that you engage with will have a different approach - it is not a one size fits all. As you engage with a community ensure to hear from all parties withing the community ( young/ old / at home / business / key leaders in organizations etc.) as each will bring a voice from but also too their respective peers. Don't be rushed - it may take several meetings / months to engage with all stakeholders - so plan accordingly and plan early . If you have a deadline for a project - give lead time for follow-up after and before to ensure the engagement is on track or if changes are required.

Communication is fundamental to the success of my community outreach efforts. I prioritize clear and respectful communication, tailoring my language and tone to ensure it's relatable and understandable for my community audiences. Consistency and transparency are also key; I make sure to provide accurate and timely updates about our outreach activities and their outcomes. It's crucial to communicate in a way that is respectful and sensitive, acknowledging and addressing any issues or concerns that arise. I always strive to avoid assumptions or stereotypes that could offend or alienate members of the community. This approach helps build trust and fosters a positive, inclusive environment for all our outreach initiatives.

Listening to folk suggestions not only makes them feel heard but actively engages them in the process. This type of buy-in is excellent and can really push your initiatives forward

Simply put, engaging communities should be about the communities and not the people implementing the engagement. So many times we have implemented self centred community engagements where the people we intend to help, don't feel that we are interested in them and what they do. In the word of Dale Carnagie, "Be genuinely interested in people"

In any society, the concept of a "community" generally points at a group of people that does not exercise their rights and aspirations to the fullest, or as it should be with any other fellow citizen. At the core of any approach is to accept the fact that any "community" (a group of people with similar characteristics or features or a group of people located geographically in a determined area, or even a group of people living sharing similar values and/or lifestyles by choice) must be considered equal regarding rights and duties, and must be reached with dignity and respect. We do not see such approach always, because there's an assistencialist vision from certain organizations towards certain communities.