Best Practices for Communities of Color and Limited Resource Audiences

We are encouraging program specialists to offer sequential programming to all audiences for greater impact, but we are hearing/experiencing that minority audiences/limited resource audiences are less likely to attend multiple sessions.....what are other best practices for meeting their needs?  Are there suggestions for increasing these groups participation?

Ken Martinez says:

There are many reasons why communities of color do not continue attending sequential programming, much like they may not continue to attend psychotherapy sessions after the first or second session.  They include:  lack of match between the programming and their needs; language preference and comfort (both with the language itself and literacy level of material presented); instructor (culture, values, class, etc.); content of material presented; historical experience with system(s) sponsoring the programming; location; transportation; child care needs; and other similar issues.  Program developers need to take into consideration all of these domains: values, contextual, transactional and historical issues when planning, designing, developing and implementing programs. 

It helps to think outside the box.  When planning programming, consider the message, the messenger and the medium within the contexts of the domains mentioned above.  An example would be that on-site instruction or programming may not be the most effective medium especially if it is conducted by someone (messenger) who is not familiar with the community, its history, values, context, language, etc. and the content (message) is not relevant or presented in a manner that is not responsive to the real life needs of the community as determined by the community itself.  Your best use of resources initially maybe the services of a "cultural broker" or "community gate-keeper" who knows the community, because they come from the community and can relate to the community's needs and can recommend the medium, message and messenger for the programming. They themselves may be involved in communicating the message because of the credibility they have.  The medium might not be on-site programming but may be short radio spots or radio call in shows where confidentiality and family privacy is maintained especially when sensitive subjects are discussed.  The preferred medium may be community fairs, church related events, or community celebrations where culturally relevant messages and programming can take place in familiar territory with familiar faces.  One size does not fit all so researching the preferred modes of communication and sharing in any given community is worth the effort.