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Create and Strengthen Relationships

When organizations take the important step of working with community leaders and Latinx-serving organizations, they must go in with the understanding that these relationships are mutual. Effective relationship building calls for more than having translated materials. It is essential to know local community leaders and Latinx-serving organizations and start a line of communication with them. Identify these people and groups and reach out to share your goals and intentions with them.

If and when you are able to form a line of communication, keep in mind the importance of building trust. Take the time to make personal connections and to listen to their goals, missions, experiences, and points of view. Building trust may also include taking part in activities or supporting other organizations, groups, or people in ways that do not immediately align with your goals. Always remember that these should be equally beneficial relationships and partnerships.

You can look to these relationships or partnerships as opportunities for things like passing along critical information but you must also learn how you can be of service to the partner organization. Here, too, it is important to note the language preferences of the community members with whom you are interacting.

How prepared are you to engage with people who have varying degrees of comfort speaking Spanish and English? What are the priorities you hope to address in these potential relationships? What kinds of resources would you be able to offer? How do you plan to contact a representative sample of voices from the community? In addition to Latinx community leaders and Latinx-serving organizations, look at the work of other groups who are already engaging with Latinxs and see what you can learn from them.

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Create and Strengthen Relationships