Strategies for Putting out the Welcome Mat to Engage Diverse Constituents
Strategies for Putting out the Welcome Mat to Engage Diverse Constituents (downloadable pdf) by Leah Cooper for PAHRTS.
Preview:
| Identifying Communities | Discovering Barriers to Communities | Reducing Barriers |
| Who do you serve now? | Participation in the arts vs. basic needs | Workshops and discussions |
| Who is in the community? | Inexperience with your art form | Access programs: |
| Who should you be serving? (Mission) | Inexperience with philanthropy | Childcare |
| Measure community by: | Communication | Transportation |
| Demographics | Transportation | Free/Discounted admission |
| Affinity/Interest | Limits and Difference: | Change environment |
| Ability | Body | Messaging |
| Experience | Mind | Internal training |
| Geography | Spirit | Internal diversity |
| Historically marginalized | Customer Service needs | Consideration of ethics of engagement |
| Politics | Interest | Reciprocal relationships |
| Who are other organizations serving? | Size of gap between them and you | Deliberative practice |
| What happens when demographics in your community shift? | Finanical limitations are real limitations to breadth and depth | Make space for action and feedback from those excluded |
| ASK! | Showing up | |
| Breaking bread | ||
| Partner with others doing same work | ||
| Engaging Interests | Measuring Success | Dealing with Failure |
| Focus on uniting elements | Increase in numbers | Tenacity |
| Group discussion | Increase in interest | Patience |
| PR | Surveys | Faith |
| Missionaries and advisors | Social media | Honest conversations |
| Partner with others who are succeeding | Retention | Embrace risk |
| Transparency | Relationships | Roll with it, adjust on the fly |
| Accountability | Plan for long term: | Not failure, “learning” |
| Dedicated committee | Dedicated staff | Transparency and collaboration – Learn WITH |
| Delegate leadership | Realistic goals | Analyze, what was inadequate or misguided: |
| Programming that reflects them | Tangible commitments | People |
| Interactive programs | Capturing contacts | Resources |
| Participatory programs | Key players | Quality |
| Shared celebration | Spirit | |
| ASK! | Commitment | |
| Communication | ||
| Document learning |