Greater Outreach A look at community outreach with a focus on recruitment

Goals of Greater Outreach What are some goals you may hope to reach from greater outreach efforts? More support for your cause Larger reputation More general awareness of your cause/ group Funding Additional resources More people to join your team Greater legitimacy “Championers” Others?

Before thinking about the best ways to reach out to people, we have to consider two things…

1. Outreach Objectives Before planning the “most effective” outreach & recruitment activities, we must first need to think of what we are hoping to accomplish. Examples of objectives: 6 notable community members endorsing your issue General public learn more about the issue 50 new members joining your organization 5 new invested members involved in the tm

2. Your Targets Once we’ve consider what we specifically want to accomplish with our outreach efforts; the next questions is: Who can make this happen? The answer will also be: Your outreach targets! Difficult to get to them personally? If so, the additional question you must ask is: Who can help us get to them?

Quick Practice: We want 50 more people to attend our next educational forum who could sign our HP petition for greater healthcare systems in our community. Who could make this happen? How [through who] could we get to them?

One Caveat! While it is important to have outreach targets, especially when working with limited capacity, don’t discredit outlets to reach new audiences! You never know who may support your cause until you reach out.

Methods of Outreach What are some activities we could do that would increase our ability to reach out? Public events/actions Participation in larger events (conferences, fairs, concerts, etc.) Getting media attention Joining/building coalitions Fundraising Membership recruitment Others?

Focus: Recruitment

Benefits of Recruitment Some benefits: More helpers for an initiative Higher event attendance More core group members/ leaders Additional connections & ideas More publicity outlets Others? Like deciding the best outreach strategy, consider what benefit and “level” of recruitment you are aiming for when deciding your recruitment activities.

Preparing for Effective Recruitment Research best venues & channels to reach your targets Develop your “elevator talk” for general recruitment purposes Have very specific “asks” for the recruitment targets to participate Create enticing, informational materials about your group/project to have available Get help! Recruiting is a team effort.

Preparing Pt 2; the Specifics: “What Are We Recruiting For?” When you make “tangible asks”, stick to your “Wants” and communicate your “Offers” Wants – in terms of volunteers, resources, trainings, attendance, signatures, etc for your projects Offers – different resources you can offer volunteers in terms of skills, contacts, connections, etc.

Wholesale vs. Retail Wholesale: opportunity to engage a large number of people using as few resources as possible. Examples: Presentations and meetings, posters and flyers, phone banks, mass s, postcards Retail: targeting individuals through direct contact with someone already committed to your group or general purpose. Examples: One-on-one meetings, individual phone calls/letters/ s, tabling & petitioning

The 4 Cs of Recruitment Connection – find that common ground that opens discussion Context- explain your group & issue. Answer “Why should he/she care about it?” Commitment- make a direct, tangible ask. Catapult- wrap up on clear, positive note about any commitments and your follow-up

Follow-up The last thing you want to glaze over… Take notes after every commitment made Follow-up within the hr period with a “thank you” and a reminder of any commitment made. Ask questions about them & their interest. Put a time limit to all follow-up and be on time!

Practice Exercise: Scenario Roleplays (rotating pairs in groups of 4): There is a Seminar on Health Equity and there are a number of recruitment possibilities you’ve identified. 1. You are looking for people to attend your next seminar on health equity. You are tabling in a public areas on your campus and someone approaches the table… 2. Publicity of this event is a huge commitment. You need to set up a committee and are going to bring it up at the nest meeting… 3. The group wants to continue regular seminars; but you need help. You know of a member that may be interested in being the “speakers bureau coordinator”…

Regroup Strengths you noticed in each scenario roleplay Areas for improvement you noticed Questions? Contact for further information: