Providing Skills to Build Relationships with Underserved Communities

CSS talented learning specialists supporting NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (for which we subcontract through Lynker) are integral contributors to a team of federal staff and affiliates who develop training to assist coastal community decision makers and resource managers with building skills needed to enhance their communities. CSS learning specialists recently led the development of a workshop, titled “Let’s Talk About Trust: A Collaborative Learning Opportunity to Reflect on Building Long-Term Relationships with Underserved Communities.” Federal staff discovered this topic is a desired area of interest following a needs assessment they conducted. Results identified that building trust with underserved communities is essential to creating a sustainable and just future. With this critical need becoming more evident and urgent in recent years, the team recognized the demand to provide community leaders and managers with new skills and to help them gain new perspectives to do this work. CSS employee owners developed the workshop while checking in with federal staff at key points along the development process.

CSS employee owners delivered this workshop at Social Coast Forum in Charleston, SC, a conference focused on applying social science data, tools, and practices to address coastal community issues, including climate change, the economy, infrastructure, environmental issues and more. Throughout the workshop, participants reflected on the concept of trust, co-created a list of best practices, and departed the workshop equipped with a suite of resources to use moving forward. The workshop was well received with positive post-workshop survey results. In addition, CSS learning specialists have received an overwhelming number of requests for this workshop and are planning future offerings with Great Lakes and South Carolina partners.