As you identify stakeholders, they will include groups that are typically underrepresented and underserved in your city and whose voices are often not included in planning or heard on issues. Interestingly, these groups are often disproportionately affected by some of the issues or problems that affect a city’s overall population.
Underserved groups may include, but are not limited to:
-Youths
-Seniors
-People with disabilities
-Low-income and working poor
-Impoverished and/or homeless
-Immigrants
-People for whom English is second language
-Single parents
-Veterans
-Racial or ethnic minority groups
-Religious minority groups
-Members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community
-People with limited education or literacy
Participation of Underrepresented Groups
-Ask intermediary community groups to identify respected groups or leaders within underrepresented groups in your city.
-Develop partnerships with groups to assure representation.
-Invite leaders to participate or identify a representative to participate in the Cities of Service Initiative.
-Utilize leaders and groups to hold meetings in communities where underrepresented populations may be reached to ensure that they are a part of the process.
-Increase underrepresented groups’ participation so they have an impact on decisions.
Outreach to Underrepresented Stakeholders
In order to successfully reach underrepresented stakeholders, you need to build trusting relationships with members of the community and develop reliable contacts among the groups. The following guidelines may be useful:
Do your homework. Make every attempt to know and understand your audience.
Take the time to understand cultural differences and be aware of different styles of communication.
Work with a leader or an influential member of the group.
Organize a team of local community members to advise you.
Establish an alliance/coalition; include other agencies and community groups, businesses, and civic groups.
Share the stage with community leaders.
Ask your contact to accompany you at meetings to increase your credibility among other members of the community.
This helps build your advisor’s confidence in your intentions and honesty.
Allow the community leader to take a leadership role in the process, rather than appearing to follow your lead.
Host meetings in locations that are comfortable and convenient.
Establish trust; be patient and move slowly if cultural differences are great.
Encourage groups to identify their needs using their own language and terms.
Avoid using slang terms or agency jargon.
Ask groups to establish goals, be willing to help, and try to connect these goals with the project’s vision.
When holding meetings, public forums, focus groups, or neighborhood hearings, be sure you provide the following:
-The opportunity for verbal and written feedback
-Multimedia presentations
-Multilingual translators
-Sign-language interpreters
-Accessible locations without physical barriers
-Child care
-Refreshments
-Accessibility via public transportation
Meet and relate to people where they are and not where or how you think they should be.
-Use visual and hands-on methods of educating and informing.
-When written communication is necessary, translate material into clear language written at a sixth-grade level, the standard for communicating with any group. Be aware of the language(s) used in the community, and provide materials in native languages when possible. Don’t make a big issue of it.
-Consider accessibility. When using telecommunication, ensure that TDD/TTY telephones are available. Will materials be made available in alternative formats?
-Also ensure that low-income groups have access to telephones if using this as a primary form of communication. One source for telephones for low-income residents is SafeLink.
Take your time, be patient, and remain practical.
-Make sure that any plans include strategies that allow people to help themselves.
-When working with some Native American tribes, you may need to work systematically with tribal members before working with tribal leaders. The same may be true in working with different community leaders or community icons.
-Native American tribal governments are considered domestic sovereign nations and should be treated as such in order to work successfully with them.
Source:
Techniques for Adapting to Cultural Differences, National Association of Conservation Districts, 1994
