Community Outreach – tips & discussion

Notes from Community Outreach – tips & discussion on December 8, 12:00-1:30 pm

  • How do we reach underserved/underrepresented groups virtually?
    • There don’t seem to be a lot of resources out there to support virtual outreach.
    • Even for in-person programming, we often have to reach out directly to specific individuals and groups.
  • It is important to make sure speakers know when there will be interpreters for their sessions. It can be disconcerting to have someone else suddenly talking in another language.
  • The more diverse the audience, the more support it will need and the more time that may be required.
    • There may be different levels of technological skills.
    • Different resources may be needed to meet individual needs.
    • Find out what platforms your audience is most comfortable with.
  • Making home visits virtual requires different resources to support connectivity.
    • Different phone plans may incur extra charges.
    • Some platforms are not secure (Facetime).
  • Erin provided STEAM kits for kids in the foster care system and included 4-H information as a way to reach an underserved population.
  • Physically going to an underserved audience has been most successful and can’t easily be replicated virtually.
  • Virtual offerings tend not to be as diverse or reach the audience who would most benefit.
  • Digital Equity Center is a no/low-cost resource for accessing technology.
  • Some staff have mailed program materials to participants and then set up times to meet virtually to do the activities.
  • How do you develop relationships with teachers and schools?
    • After School leaders tend to be the most receptive as they have the least resources and will refer to teachers.
    • Phone calls work better than mail/email.
    • Connect with 21st Century Learning Centers
    • Tap into existing school connections – Summer of Science programs,
  • Ask principals for a time during a staff meeting to present the curriculum to teachers.
  • Engage audience: Have the audience write down (or say) what comes to mind when you mention a topic
  • Research your audience:
    • English as a first language
    • Reading and/or writing deficiencies
    • Use more images when communicating in situations with language issues
    • Reach out to English as a second language program for assistance/resources
  • Allow extra time in the agenda; adjust speed to match audience needs. Create working agreements for the group (i.e., group can agree on a signal vs having to interrupt to say they are having trouble understanding)
  • Meet with interpreters in advance to make sure they are prepared to interpret your topic. Provide a presentation in advance.
  • https://nesfp.org/new-american-resources – Refugee Farmer Teaching Handbook. Many principles could be used across program areas.
    • How do you reach underserved audiences if there isn’t a specific/tangible group (i.e., tribal group, immigrant organization)? Public television ads or announcements; may be able to broadcast an actual workshop
    • Mailing lists
    • Reach out to other organizations that work with underserved audiences (i.e., LGB organizations)
    • Geographic diversity – track addresses of participants and target future information to towns that are not represented
    • Disabled individuals are a large, underserved audience; 15-16% of the population statewide, individual counties may be higher.
  • Schools would have statistics on their students for reporting purposes. If you went to a group home, that is a tangible group for reporting.
  • Need to try to meet people at their level; modify presentations/content to meet the needs of a particular group. i.e., Use different words based on age groups.
  • Inspect sites in advance for accessibility and make accommodations as needed.
  • Zoom has a feature that does real-time transcription. The presenter can enable the feature so individuals can choose to turn it on or off on their screen.
  • Many kids are better at advocating for themselves. Adding examples of accommodations may help people who aren’t sure what we can even offer.
  • Tour guide headsets can be useful. Some are expensive. Could there be a system to encourage sharing of accommodation resources that are needed in one place all the time?
  • Use available resources even if you aren’t sure it’s needed (i.e., microphones, etc)
  • Clear facemasks could be useful. Make sure they aren’t too shiny/reflective.
  • Repeating questions people ask for answers given to make sure it is heard and understood by everyone in the audience.
  • Providing instructions for an activity helps someone who has trouble keeping up with the group.
  • How do you present information without alienating people with other ways of doing things? How do we acknowledge their skills/knowledge?
    • Request input from knowledgeable people from your target audience in creating curriculum or programming.
    • We should join their groups and develop a relationship prior to trying to recruit them into our programs.
    • Don’t just use people to get what you want (grants, etc).
    • Assume everyone (adults generally) in your audience has some relevant expertise – try to find out what they are in advance or build in opportunities for them to share during the program.
  • Recognize cultural differences.
  • Mari is a good resource for media-related ideas (improve presentations, flyers, etc)
  • The marketing team and test accessibility of materials.
  • Overall theme: know your audience!
  • How do we learn indigenous/cultural knowledge from others without asking too much of them?
  • Incorporate them as partners in the project – find the leaders in these communities as equal partners (in grants too)
  • You can do the work to go to them first and do things for them first – join their board