Outreach

Outreach is an important aspect of creating a community center. In order to gain support, the community needs to know what services and programs your center plans to offer. One way to ensure ample communication with your community is through an outreach plan. Here is a simple breakdown of what we think works based on our research.

It is important to understand who you are trying to contact and inform; not everyone is informed in the same way. It is also very important to consider who is intended to receive your information. This determination of your audience is referred as a stakeholder analysis and in the case of community centers there are many stakeholders: community members, sponsors, and local small business partners. Here are some different tools that we have seen commonly used amongst community centers in Puerto Rico to reach their communities:

Social Media - this is one way to reach the most people in an area as many people today have instant access to the internet
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Twitter
Paper Flyers - This tool connects to close locals that can pick up the flyer from a local restaurant or post office. Great for those who repeatedly volunteer.
- Monthly Bulletins
- Posters
News Cars - these are cars that drive around local neighborhoods and announce news through large speakers
Word of Mouth - this is just basic conversation; speaking to anyone that you may be interacting with

Outreach Tools

Figures above are La Goyco's monthly brochures that advertise events

You need to know what the community wants from the center in order to make it effective. This means being open to all problems expressed by the community. Issues can be sorted to better comprehend the situation. Once any initial questions are answered, then you can start to later formulate an approach. Here are some categories and questions that can help:

Demographics
- Who lives in the community? (Elderly, Two-Parent Families, Single-Parent Families, Youth)
- What are the age ranges?
Common Issues
- Do people have access to amenities? (food, water, shelter, electricity, education)
Specific Issues
- Elderly
  - Do most need daily assistance?
  - What is the medical situation?
- Families
  - Do they have daycare?

Analyze Community Needs

We found that a grassroots initiative is an effective start to accomplishing your goals. It is apparent that most initiatives are started before the school is legally owned. Small groups will start to clean the property and show the government their interest in keeping the school. These small groups are usually formed by word of mouth and sharing intentions face to face with the community. Using some of the outreach tools mentioned later on this page are also a good way to procure support. Interactions such as these build relationships and trust which gains more support. Some examples of grassroots events are listed here:

Community Rallies
Speaking at Townhall Meetings
Community Clean-Ups

Generating Community Support

Photo of Casa de la Plena Tour at La Goyco's Community Fair