Communications + Awareness Building

Create and share an equity commitment statement that acknowledges historical bias and creating a more equitable community as a north star. Being explicit in the history and conditions that created the need for equity work will invite deeper engagement and clarity in the work.

Utilize current and established communication pathways as conduits of information-- including media outlets that serve communities of color, social media, faith-based, and community centers. Acknowledge that you may not know all existing pathways, and by investing in finding new platforms, relationships can be built.

Democratize the process. Provide opportunities and spaces for community residents to leverage United Way communications channels to create their own narratives. A good example of this is United Way of the Greater Triangle’s 10 to Watch effort, which has invested in The Beautiful Project to empower women of color to develop their own narratives through the use of photography.

Create materials that are accessible, relevant, and meaningful to the community you’re engaging. Think specifically about additional languages, and communication for those with visual or hearing impairment. Identify a diverse set of targets to connect with, then test the communication always asking, “Who is not represented here?”

Engage many different styles of learning such as play, visual activities, and stories to build awareness and motivate participation. Multi-dimensional communications will elicit more robust impact.

Engage active resisters to develop a baseline of understanding of key disparities in their community. Working with unlikely partners to build mutual learning and connection will drive outcomes for a deeper equity experience. Radical inclusivity is a practice of equity.

Engage trusted corporate partners to build their awareness of community inequities and create solutions.