This synchronous training series is designed to build on the asynchronous content and enhance your ability to engage effectively with communities and build strong, trusting relationships. There are three interactive training sessions in this series:
- Session I: Building Trust & Relationships (Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 @ 2:00 – 4:00 PM ET )
Connect with other public health communicators and learn how to foster trust and cultivate strong relationships within the communities you serve.
- Session II: Facilitating Community Processes (Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 @ 2:00 – 4:00 PM ET )
Explore techniques and approaches to effectively facilitate community discussions and collaborative processes.
- Session III: Addressing Challenges in Community Engagement (Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024 @ 2:00 – 4:00 PM ET )
Identify and address common challenges that arise in community engagement work.
The Zoom registration link for all three sessions is here. Once registered, you should receive a Zoom join link in your inbox – please use the link received to join the sessions.
Before the first session on September 25, please:
- Register for the above sessions via Zoom.
- Complete the pre-session survey (under “Course Content” below).
- Introduce yourself to fellow cohort members by adding a response to the “Welcome” post on the discussion forum below.
In order to receive a certificate of completion, you will need to attend and participate in all three sessions.
What You’ll Learn
- Apply concepts introduced during the asynchronous course on community engagement in public health communication.
- Connect with other public health communicators.
- Identify opportunities for starting and building community partnerships.
- Discuss best practices in building trust and relationships between public health staff and community organizations and members.
- Select relevant/best approaches for community engagement activities.
- Articulate key considerations when working in relationship with community partners.
- Identify some possible challenges in working with communities in public health communication activities.
- Anticipate and work to address challenges when working with community partners.
- Create a plan to earn and build trust in community partnerships.
Meet the Experts
Ameena Batada, DrPH (she/her) has over 20 years of experience in communications and public health both in the US and internationally. Dr. Batada has spent her career working with partners to improve health and advance health equity through communications and research, from individual to national-level efforts. Currently, Dr. Batada teaches health communication and community health transformation courses at UNC Asheville and partners with organizations, community members, and public health departments on community-driven efforts to advance policy change and health equity. She was the co-director of the UNC Asheville-UNC Gillings Master of Public Health program until 2024. For the last 13 years she has lived and engaged primarily with local and regional partners in Western North Carolina.
Mo Barbosa is a Senior Director of Community Engagement at Health Resources in Action (HRiA). Prior to joining HRiA, he was Program Coordinator for the Fellowship Center in St. Louis, MO and Director of the Area 4 Youth Center in Cambridge, MA. Mo delivers training, provides technical assistance, and participates in field-building initiatives. He promotes the professionalization of the youth-worker field through work on legislation, youth worker networks, and partnerships with higher education. As a trainer, Mo builds the skills of participants while keeping connections to theory. A long-time facilitator of community processes, he works with gangs, parents, youth, political organizations, tenant councils, and community resident groups. His current community work is in the Area 4/Port neighborhood of Cambridge, focusing on violence and other community issues. Mo chairs the Men of Color Task Force for the City of Cambridge, serves on the boards of the Phillips Brooks House Association, the Port Action Group, and the Design Studio for Social Intervention. Additionally, he has participated in various local, state, and national boards and steering committees focusing on a wide range of issues from youth work to international relations.
Discussion Forum
This forum is restricted to members of the associated cohort.