“There is a conversation in the room that only people at this moment can have. Find it.”
– Emergent Strategy, adrienne marie brown
Description
This POWER Play focuses on creating the necessary structures and practices that make engagement accessible and meaningful at every step.
Why it matters:
Deep engagement is key to sustainable and effective outcomes. By actively involving community members in shaping their own futures, policies and programs become more relevant, impactful, and embraced by those they are meant to serve.
How to do this:
- Use a variety of engagement methods (town hall meetings, online forums, focus groups, surveys, etc.) to cater to different community preferences and needs.
- This tool details the spectrum of community engagement to ownership with clear examples and practical applications.
- Ensure these methods are accessible to all, including those with disabilities, non-English speakers, and people with limited internet access.
- Incorporate innovative methods like community art projects, storytelling sessions, and interactive workshops to gather input and ideas.
- Here is a repository of tools, activities, and resources to consider for engaging meetings, both in person and digital.
- Encourage participation from a broad spectrum of community members, especially young people and underrepresented groups.
- Explore the core principles of youth participation and how to integrate youth participation best practices into broader community engagement efforts in the self-paced module found here.
- Develop multilingual and easy-to-understand communication materials, including visual aids and simplified texts.
- Find certified foreign language interpretation and translation services here. Some states, such as Massachusetts, have a list of preferred vendors.
- Use various communication platforms, from social media to local radio, local cable TV, and podcasts, to reach different community segments.
- Be intentional about inclusive and person-first language. Learn more about inclusive terminology and preferred terms for select population groups here.
- Recognize and compensate community members for their time, effort, and expertise in participating in engagement processes. This includes covering costs for transportation and childcare, cash payment or gift cards for participation, or other incentive mechanisms.
- During the implementation of the Community Health Equity Survey, the MA Department of Public Health ensured that members of their advisory committee (which guided the survey development and who reflected the focus populations the survey was designed to reach), received a stipend for all meetings attended.
- Value the stories and experiences shared by community members as critical inputs to policy and program development.
- Read more about intentionally incorporating narrative strategy into your work here.
Example in practice:
Berkshire Funding Focus (BFF) was established to support Berkshire County, Massachusetts entities seeking federal and state funds for pandemic-related recovery and building organizational and sector capacity for the long term. BFF’s core principles of equity and inclusion were designed to level the planning field and ensure access to information for all, with a particular focus on Black, Indigenous, and people of color-led businesses and organizations. Recognizing that there was limited engagement with BIPOC groups, BFF commissioned an assessment to enhance understanding of specific experiences and needs related to the BIPOC community in Berkshire County. The assessment included two surveys, one-on-one discussions, and an Information Sharing Session with assessment respondents. The findings highlighted several structural barriers faced by BIPOC-led businesses and organizations in the Berkshires. In response, BFF reevaluated its approach, focusing on strengthening relationships with BIPOC leaders, advocating for their specific needs, and strategizing for more effective support. These adaptations aimed to enhance resilience, sustainability, and success for BIPOC businesses and organizations in the long term.
Learn more about Berkshire Funding Focus here.
Tools and resources to support learning:
- Toolkits and Guides: Boston Public Health Commission Equitable Community Engagement Toolkit, Part 1 and Part 2
- Learn practices to share decision making, build trust, and shift power: Participatory Philanthropy Toolkit
- Asynchronous Module: Community Resilience Module III, Community Engagement Strategies
