RE: Outreach - Identifying the Interested Public

[Linda Block <lblockhead@yahoo.com>]

About identifying community members:

This is a very time consuming but important process and funds will have to be allocated to make this possible.  It's hard to sell the concept of outreach because the effort does not reap immediate financial rewards and the pay off, which is not measured in dollar signs, takes years to see.  If the goal is to do this on a regional level, the task is hugely daunting.  If it is to reach specific smaller areas, I am more optimistic.  That said...

Go to the city or county Office of Planning and obtain a listing of local community groups.  From my experience, these vary from area to area.  Some communities have an abundance of civic clubs (like in SE Houston where I work)others are organized around specific neighborhood issues.  Directories are often now accessible on the web.

Make many phone calls.  It is a tedious process but an important one in identifying active community leaders.

Advertise in libraries, community centers, local papers and newsletters.  Know the main languages spoken in the area and provide materials in appropriate languages.

Beware of using just "environmental directories".  It's important to remember that groups may not consider themselves "environmental" because they do not fit the stereotypic definition but that urban issues like trash on the streets, housing, etc. are environmental.

Robert Bullard's People of Color Environmental Directory was a good start in IDing people-of-color groups in each state but is far from being complete!

Make translators available during meetings.