10 Recommendations Towards Community Visibility

BY André Solomon 

In the Summer and Fall of 2022, Creative Generation collaborated with the Appell Center for Performing Arts (ACPA) to produce an actionable plan elevating community knowledge and inform a set of tools to create a community hub for arts and cultural education in York County, PA. ACPA sought to engage with the community effectively, specifically convening residents throughout the county to learn about the ways they engage civically, creatively, and interpersonally with the arts, arts education, and the Appell Center and its theaters. 

You can learn more about this work through numerous publications, including:

We have continued this collaboration with quarterly meetings throughout 2023 to support the integration of our recommendations and community responses. 

In a recent quarterly call, ACPA expressed interest in increasing their community visibility through active participation in various community events. They sought to align their dedication with authentic, not performative, involvement. In response to this, I decided to initiate brainstorming sessions with Creative Generation’s Communications & Engagement and Learning & Leadership Teams to generate relevant questions that could guide ACPA’s pursuits in achieving an authentic presence with their community. 

The questions generated during these sessions addressed many of the necessary steps an organization can take before engaging with a community and the actions that can be taken while actively involved in community, which I have authored into a few blogs:

  • 10 Recommendations Towards Community Visibility (this blog!): In this blog, I discuss ten steps of preparatory and engaged work which organizations can and should engage in before becoming “visible” in their communities - they each start with questions to ponder.

  • Realizing the Visions of Community Visibility Through Authentic Community Engagement: In this blog, I discuss the “dream scenarios” and resulting outcomes of authentic community visibility to provide guideposts for your work.

With heartfelt dedication to authenticity and community empowerment,

André 

As you and your organization begin community visibility work, it is important to prepare your organization for authentic community engagement. Please find the below list of ten things to consider, broken into two parts.

Preparatory Work

  1. Aligning Participation with Community Commitment: How can organizations proactively ensure that their participation in community events aligns genuinely with commitments towards the community, fostering authentic engagement rather than being perceived as performative?

  2. Incorporating Authentic Community-Driven Belief Statements: What concrete steps can organizations take to incorporate community-driven belief statements, concise and declarative expressions of an organization's core beliefs and guiding principles that align actions, decisions, and behaviors with its mission and values, that are truly representative of the communities served, ensuring these statements resonate authentically and build meaningful connections? 

  3. Embodying Participation and Inclusivity in Event Planning: How can organizations actively involve community members in the planning and execution of events and activities, demonstrating a commitment to participation, inclusivity, and co-creation to enhance the overall community experience?

  4. Building Genuine Partnerships and Inclusive Invitations: Are invitations to participate in community events initiated by the community themselves, or are organizations actively seeking out these opportunities? How can organizations prioritize building strong, genuine partnerships to ensure their involvement is based on authentic invitations?

  5. Prioritizing Diversity and Representation: Do organizations have individuals within their organization who are representative of the communities they aim to engage with? How can organizations proactively prioritize diversity and inclusivity within their teams, ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are present for authentic community connections?

    Engaged Work

  6. Communicating Allyship with Transparency: How can organizations effectively communicate their role as allies to the community, while being mindful of the distinction between being an ally and being part of the community? What messaging strategies can organizations employ to foster understanding and avoid performative actions? For example: 

    • Centering Community Voices: organizations can prioritize amplifying community voices and experiences, letting the community speak for themselves and actively involving them in shaping narratives and events.

    • Listening and Learning: organizations can openly acknowledge their position as allies and commit to listening and learning from the community's experiences, needs, and perspectives to inform their actions and initiatives.

    • Transparency in Decision-Making: organizations can communicate their decision-making processes openly, explaining how community input and values are considered in shaping their programs and activities.

    • Actions Speak Louder Than Words: organizations can emphasize concrete actions and tangible outcomes that demonstrate their commitment to supporting the community, ensuring their initiatives align with community needs and aspirations.

    • Long-Term Partnership: organizations can express their dedication to building sustainable, long-term partnerships with the community rather than engaging in one-off or tokenistic gestures.

    • Acknowledging Mistakes and Growth: organizations can demonstrate humility by acknowledging past mistakes, expressing a commitment to growth, and actively working to rectify any missteps or oversights.

    • Sharing Impact and Progress: organizations can transparently share their progress and impact, highlighting how their initiatives have positively affected the community and addressing any challenges faced.

    • Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity: organizations can prioritize cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in their messaging, ensuring they acknowledge and respect diverse cultural practices and perspectives.

    • Collaborative Partnerships: organizations can communicate their willingness to collaborate with community leaders and organizations, recognizing that authentic partnerships require equal participation and shared decision-making.

    • Education and Awareness: organizations can use their platforms to educate their audiences about the community's history, challenges, and strengths, fostering greater understanding and empathy.

  7. Gathering Foundational Insights for Meaningful Engagement: What foundational concepts and information should organizations gather about the communities they engage with to ensure that their activities and messaging are relevant, respectful, and truly meaningful to address the unique needs and aspirations of the community?

  8. Prioritizing Genuine Relationship-Building: How can organizations prioritize getting to know the communities they engage with on a deeper level, moving beyond self-promotion, and fostering genuine relationships that go beyond the surface level?

  9. Contributing Tangibly to Community Empowerment: In what tangible ways can organizations contribute to the communities they engage with, such as sponsorships, amplified artistic expression, opportunities for hiring, or other means of support, to empower the community and foster authentic collaboration?

  10. Leveraging Public Events as Testaments to Transparency: How can organizations effectively leverage public events and activities as evidence of the meaningful work they have done over the past year? What specific outcomes, partnerships, and community impact can they showcase to demonstrate their commitment and authenticity?

In my next blog, “Realizing the Visions of Community Visibility Through Authentic Community Engagement,” check out how these recommendations and questions can be realized and operationalized within your organization as “dream scenarios” and outcomes.