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Robust community engagement can deliver meaningful, lasting outcomes for communities. On December 4th, TEPRI hosted a virtual webinar titled Thriving Community Engagement as part of our Community Voices Speaker Series. This event brought together community advocates, local leaders, and program developers to discuss how to implement effective Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) and community engagement.
The event opened with an overview of CBPs as a tool for ensuring communities are at the heart of local projects. Unlike static agreements, CBPs are dynamic, relational frameworks that adapt to evolving community priorities and promote resilience.
Moderated by Veronique Placke, our expert panel included:
Yaneth Barton (ycalderon@harcresearch.org), Community Engagement Manager at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), shared insights from projects like the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub in Houston.
Efrem B. Jernigan (efrembjernigan@gmail.com), President of the South Union Community Development Corporation’s board of directors, brought experience as a STEM education leader in Houston. He worked with his neighbors in Sunnyside, Houston, to harness the power of sunshine.
Amber Arriaga-Salinas (aarriagasalinas@proyectoazteca.org), the Assistant Executive Director of Proyecto Azteca, whose work in the Rio Grande Valley Colonias focuses on equitable housing, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.
The discussion reinforced that effective community engagement is a continuous, iterative process. Some key takeaways included:
Relational Engagement: Building relationships is foundational. Successful community engagement is rooted in an authentic, two-way dialogue that prioritizes listening to and empowering community members.
Transparency: Transparency and accountability are not one-time commitments. Setting clear goals and having regular progress updates ensures promises made are kept. Projects need to track clear metrics that embody the goals established with community members.
Resilience and Resourcefulness: Communities and organizations can maintain momentum by leveraging local support, creating shared responsibility to act, and adapting to challenges without compromising on goals. By inviting diverse perspectives and empowering those who may not always step forward, they create a shared sense of ownership and build a more resilient path to success.
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