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AUTHENTIC
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

ASK, LISTEN, RESPOND

It is a simple conversation; every conversation has three parts, and it is critical to our recipe of effectiveness. 

It is the foundation of the new paradigm we are building.

It is neither complicated, nor complex. And, it is the basis upon which everything else is built.

Every person is an expert in their own lived experience. We elevate and honor that. 

 

The best way to create health is to ask people what they need to thrive.

All too often decisions are made FOR people impacted by negative determinants of health.

By changing this paradigm to include people that are most impacted in the process of identifying needs and

finding solutions has led to better informed providers and more responsive programs. It has also helped

engage more community members in all of our work. 

ASK community members what they need honors their experience and expertise in their own lives.

LISTEN to what they say can make the ideas, programs, and interventions more effective and impactful.

RESPOND to community members by telling them which ideas were incorporated into the work,

which were not incorporated and why, builds trust, understanding and enables the conversation to continue.

Thereby, creating a stronger connection between program design, implementation, and effectiveness. 

Though the different programs and projects the Healthy Gorge Initiative supports, we strive to utilize the Popular Education models of community work. Popular Education is the process of bringing people together to share their lived experiences and build collective knowledge. Popular Education learning informs action for liberation. For more info visit here. 
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