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Resource Topic: Community Engagement

  • A giant wooden troll leans against a tree

    Is Anybody Out There? Tips for Reaching Rural Audiences

    Rural areas offer both unique opportunities and challenges when it comes to reaching people. Discover how Detroit Lakes, Minnesota became home to the world’s largest exhibition of Thomas Dambo's trolls by engaging local audiences.

  • A group of people sitting in wooden chairs arranged in a circle.

    How—and Why—to Facilitate a Story Circle

    Story circles, a tool developed by rural grassroots theater makers and organizers, make it possible for people to share their experiences and discover–often to their surprise–how much they actually have in common. Here’s how it’s done.

  • A person with darker skin and a colorful red jacket speaks on a mic in front of a crowd

    Tips and Tricks for Running Large, Multi-Partner Projects

    Large-scale projects that involve multiple contributors require thoughtful planning to avoid becoming overwhelming. Learn some tips and tricks from the Wichita Public Library, a long-time NEA Big Read grantee.

  • An illustration of a welcoming storefront with a colorful banner hung at the entrance

    Uplifting and Celebrating the Diversity of Rural Communities

    The power of stories can be an important tool for building welcoming communities. Read more to learn about the different approaches taken by members of Welcoming America's network.

  • An illustration of a quilt with a lock across it

    How to Transform Shared Challenges into Community Opportunities

    Art is an important tool in bringing communities together to solve problems and overcome challenges. Read on to learn about navigating the art of human relationships with Kinect M1.

  • Two young children draw with markers on a standing drywall filled with other illustrations as part of an outdoor community art event at Innoskate 2022 in downtown Sioux Falls, SD.

    Creative Community-Centered Project Planning 

    Creative community-building is a vehicle for addressing social issues, as well as an opportunity to reimagine the way our communities can relate and support each other. This resource offers suggestions and project planning ideas to help you connect to your community priorities and vision.

  • Two people sit at a table together, taking notes and talking.

    Creating Connection 101

    Learn how to use our research to strengthen the way you build connection in your community.

  • Three people standing outdoors and having a conversation.

    Using Empathy to Better Understand Your Audience

    Empathy is an important tool that helps us understand one another. In this resource, we offer a research approach to complement surveys and other quantitative data.

  • Two people perform on the lawn as part of The Missouri River Water Walk in May 2021. People sit in lawn chairs in a circle around them and watch.

    Going Beyond Land Acknowledgments

    Land acknowledgment statements usually focus on recognizing the Indigenous past, present, and future of a location. This article helps you go beyond a statement and develop an action plan that actually supports Indigenous people.

  • A group of people in protective masks stand together in a clearing in the woods. Some are raising their hands and others are looking at pieces of paper. There are picnic benches and twinkling lights hanging around them.

    Building Belonging in Your Organization and Community

    In this companion article to Filling the Well podcast episode “Building Belonging & Creating Welcoming Organizations,” deepen your understanding of belonging and discover how to make your space more welcoming.

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