Written by Kim Furlow, communications manager for the Institute for Public Health
Have you wondered how to get the most benefit out of your engagement with community stakeholders or advisory boards? Join the Center for Community Health Partnership & Research for Collaborative Café on March 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and find out. This Collaborative Café session features a panel of members of two notable Washington University community advisory boards — the Institute for Public Health/Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences Community Advisory Board (CAB) and the Community Research Fellows Training Patient Research Advisory Board (PRAB).
The panel will share information about how researchers can engage with community stakeholder and advisory boards, how to best prepare for community advisory board engagement, and what information research teams should share as follow-up.
When a research team works with a community partners, one good guideline is to listen. “It’s so important to not be defensive,” said CAB member, Doug Lindsay. Former co-Chair, Sherrill Jackson adds, “We need ensure that community members feel that their input is highly valued and taken seriously,” Other members say that following a project collaboration, “closing the loop” between researchers and community members is essential. Researchers should go back to the community with results and ongoing feedback.
At the March 9Collaborative Café, attendees will:
- Meet two WashU advisory groups that support research
- Hear examples of community-academic engagement from experienced community researchers
- Learn how researchers can best prepare for approaching a community advisory board or other group of stakeholders
- Get tips on framing the “ask” of community stakeholders and developing effective discussion questions
- Discuss how researchers should plan to follow up after working with stakeholders and advisory boards
The Collaborative for Community-Centered Conversations — “Collaborative Café” — is hosted by the Center for Community Health Partnership & Research at the Institute for Public Health and Institute of Clinical & Translational Sciences. The event is free and open to all faculty, students, researchers, community members, and organizations dedicated to advancing equity through community-engaged research. It offers opportunities for researchers and community partners to network, share experiences, and learn from each other.
Find our more information on the March 9 panelists and REGISTER to attend this in-person event.