Civic Organizations - Enroll America
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOLKIT
Civic Organization Engagement in the
African-American Community
Overview African-American civic organizations have been a cornerstone for social and civic engagement, financial stability/mobility and a point of cultural pride and belonging for African Americans for hundreds of years. Many African-American families are members of, or are indirectly connected to, one or more of the groups below. They can all serve as crucial points of contact for engaging trusted messengers and validators-- especially in large, urban cities. Some key organization types are:
African-American civic organizations serve as crucial points of contact for engaging
Advocacy Organizations Sororities Fraternities Professional Associations Social Clubs Parent Organizations Social Service Organizations Community Support Centers Financial Literacy Centers
trusted messengers and validators.
Outreach Below are a few strategies to help you effectively reach African-American organizations and groups:
Identify organizations with a base in the community by asking partners, volunteers, and community members if they belong to any civic organizations. o It is always great to have a connection to the organization that can introduce you to the local leadership.
Research the history and current initiatives of the organizations and start by approaching those whose initiatives are aligned with health care. Almost all fraternities, sororities, civic organizations, and churches have health and wellness initiatives, committees, or ministries. Start by reaching out to the staff, chair, or contact person.
© 2013, Enroll America | www.getcoveredamerica.org
Civic Organization Engagement in the African-American Community
Arrange a meeting to present your plan. Come prepared with a general
Establish and propose an engagement plan. (See “Partner Engagement for Outreach to Young Americans” for more detailed guidance.)
Arrange a meeting to present your plan. Come prepared with a general understanding about the organization and plan to explain The Get Covered American campaign.
If they want to partner, agree to a follow-up plan with clear-cut next steps.
Below are some ideas of how you can engage different types of organizations in your outreach efforts. Organizations are diverse with varied capacity, so be sure to determine the type of organization and appropriate asks.
understanding about the organization and plan to explain The Get Covered
Membership/Chapter-Based Organizations usually have a centralized structure with accountability to and from their membership, and include fraternities and sororities, advocacy organizations, and churches. Ask to:
American campaign.
Present at upcoming meetings, church services, or conference where you can meet potential uninsured members or recruit volunteers. Table at appropriate events, rallies, meetings, fairs, and services. Leave your organizational literature or place posters in central meeting areas and visible spaces in the building. Send email/social media blasts to their networks. Ask that they share their member list and allow you to conduct phone banks or canvasses to reach their members (it is rare an organization will provide this, but worth asking if they are not conducting outreach). Use their building as a site for visibility events, meetings, trainings or gatherings. Connect you to other key organizations, community leaders, and/or participate in the local ACA outreach roundtable, if you have one. Act as a media messenger, when you need to amplify the message more broadly.
Non-Membership-Based Advocacy/Policy Organizations (e.g. National Urban League; Children’s Defense Fund) can serve as conveners of key stakeholders at conferences and meetings. Ask them to:
Convene a group of key civic organizations where you can share information about the availability of health coverage. This could lead to accessing member-based organizations. Invite you as a panelist or guest speaker at events and conferences. Communicate messages via email blasts, snail mail, newsletters, social networks, and phone banks to reach their members. Write op-eds and/or letters to the editor and act as media messengers when needed.
2013,Lockheed Enroll America www.getcoveredamerica.org Page | 2 | 703.206.00 © 2012, Martin, |IS&GS Defense, 2700 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031 | [email protected] | www.lockheedmartin.com
Civic Organization Engagement in the African-American Community
Social Service Organizations and Community Support Centers (e.g. financial literacy centers, community centers, and some community-based organizations), will be key to directly reaching the uninsured or underinsured. Ask them to:
Allow you to present at upcoming meetings where you can train staff to conduct outreach. Table or leaflet during high-traffic points of the week and/or day. Leave literature or place posters in waiting rooms, meeting areas and visible spaces in the building. Use the building as a site for visibility events, meetings, trainings or gatherings. Connect you to other key organizations and community leaders and/or participate in your local roundtable. Act as a media messenger, when you need to amplify the message more broadly.
2013,Lockheed Enroll America www.getcoveredamerica.org © 2012, Martin, |IS&GS Defense, 2700 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031 | [email protected] | www.lockheedmartin.com Page | 3 | 703.206.00
Civic Organization Engagement in the
African-American Community
Overview African-American civic organizations have been a cornerstone for social and civic engagement, financial stability/mobility and a point of cultural pride and belonging for African Americans for hundreds of years. Many African-American families are members of, or are indirectly connected to, one or more of the groups below. They can all serve as crucial points of contact for engaging trusted messengers and validators-- especially in large, urban cities. Some key organization types are:
African-American civic organizations serve as crucial points of contact for engaging
Advocacy Organizations Sororities Fraternities Professional Associations Social Clubs Parent Organizations Social Service Organizations Community Support Centers Financial Literacy Centers
trusted messengers and validators.
Outreach Below are a few strategies to help you effectively reach African-American organizations and groups:
Identify organizations with a base in the community by asking partners, volunteers, and community members if they belong to any civic organizations. o It is always great to have a connection to the organization that can introduce you to the local leadership.
Research the history and current initiatives of the organizations and start by approaching those whose initiatives are aligned with health care. Almost all fraternities, sororities, civic organizations, and churches have health and wellness initiatives, committees, or ministries. Start by reaching out to the staff, chair, or contact person.
© 2013, Enroll America | www.getcoveredamerica.org
Civic Organization Engagement in the African-American Community
Arrange a meeting to present your plan. Come prepared with a general
Establish and propose an engagement plan. (See “Partner Engagement for Outreach to Young Americans” for more detailed guidance.)
Arrange a meeting to present your plan. Come prepared with a general understanding about the organization and plan to explain The Get Covered American campaign.
If they want to partner, agree to a follow-up plan with clear-cut next steps.
Below are some ideas of how you can engage different types of organizations in your outreach efforts. Organizations are diverse with varied capacity, so be sure to determine the type of organization and appropriate asks.
understanding about the organization and plan to explain The Get Covered
Membership/Chapter-Based Organizations usually have a centralized structure with accountability to and from their membership, and include fraternities and sororities, advocacy organizations, and churches. Ask to:
American campaign.
Present at upcoming meetings, church services, or conference where you can meet potential uninsured members or recruit volunteers. Table at appropriate events, rallies, meetings, fairs, and services. Leave your organizational literature or place posters in central meeting areas and visible spaces in the building. Send email/social media blasts to their networks. Ask that they share their member list and allow you to conduct phone banks or canvasses to reach their members (it is rare an organization will provide this, but worth asking if they are not conducting outreach). Use their building as a site for visibility events, meetings, trainings or gatherings. Connect you to other key organizations, community leaders, and/or participate in the local ACA outreach roundtable, if you have one. Act as a media messenger, when you need to amplify the message more broadly.
Non-Membership-Based Advocacy/Policy Organizations (e.g. National Urban League; Children’s Defense Fund) can serve as conveners of key stakeholders at conferences and meetings. Ask them to:
Convene a group of key civic organizations where you can share information about the availability of health coverage. This could lead to accessing member-based organizations. Invite you as a panelist or guest speaker at events and conferences. Communicate messages via email blasts, snail mail, newsletters, social networks, and phone banks to reach their members. Write op-eds and/or letters to the editor and act as media messengers when needed.
2013,Lockheed Enroll America www.getcoveredamerica.org Page | 2 | 703.206.00 © 2012, Martin, |IS&GS Defense, 2700 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031 | [email protected] | www.lockheedmartin.com
Civic Organization Engagement in the African-American Community
Social Service Organizations and Community Support Centers (e.g. financial literacy centers, community centers, and some community-based organizations), will be key to directly reaching the uninsured or underinsured. Ask them to:
Allow you to present at upcoming meetings where you can train staff to conduct outreach. Table or leaflet during high-traffic points of the week and/or day. Leave literature or place posters in waiting rooms, meeting areas and visible spaces in the building. Use the building as a site for visibility events, meetings, trainings or gatherings. Connect you to other key organizations and community leaders and/or participate in your local roundtable. Act as a media messenger, when you need to amplify the message more broadly.
2013,Lockheed Enroll America www.getcoveredamerica.org © 2012, Martin, |IS&GS Defense, 2700 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031 | [email protected] | www.lockheedmartin.com Page | 3 | 703.206.00
