This handbook is the result of several years of community engagement among underserved communities, and of working in partnership with several local and regional community partners. It was created to complement existing resources on Public/ Community Engagement and Patient Engagement. While there are many resources that look at modes of engagement (see section 9), we felt that none of those explored issues pertaining to the power dynamics that emerge when engaging with communities that have traditionally been disempowered by society. This handbook invites the reader to reflect on notions of power, so they can act ethically and help challenge social injustices. While the document takes examples from health and healthcare services, it remains suitable for use in any community engagement activity, regardless of your (research) topic.
Regardless of the reasons for which you choose to engage with underserved communities (i.e. whether it is for research, or not), this handbook invites you to reflect on your approach to community engagement so that you not only acknowledge but also challenge barriers to engagement. As you read this document, we encourage you to reflect on your role in reproducing/challenging barriers and existing power dynamics. We also invite you to reflect on what motivates you to do community engagement – never engage with underserved communities as a box-ticking exercise. Community engagement only works when those who take part are genuinely motivated and enthused by the prospect of working together.
Authors:
Céline Benoit, Hannah Ackom-Mensah, Christine Burt,
Fatima Zakia and Urfan Siddiqi
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community-connexions-engagement-handbook.pdf (1.2 MB)
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