How to Build Community Trust Through CSR Efforts

When I was 8, I learned an unforgettable lesson about assumptions and inclusion. Growing up, I always visited family in rural Panama. (A bit removed and hardly visited by tourists.) I happened to cross paths with an American girl visiting with her family. When I asked why they were there, she said, “We’re here to help you.” I didn’t understand—help with what? My community was happy and thriving. It wasn’t until later I realized they’d come on a mission trip, assuming we needed assistance without ever asking us. That feeling of having my reality misunderstood—and being spoken for instead of spoken with—has stayed with me ever since. Now, as someone working to shorten the bridge between customer and product, I see how often organizations repeat this mistake, especially in accessibility. Designing for people without involving them can feel just as alienating as assuming they need help. Here’s what happens when we shift the approach: • Communities feel seen and valued. 👥✨ • Solutions meet actual needs, not assumed ones. ✅🔍 • Trust is built through collaboration. 🤝🏗️ This underscores that inclusion isn’t about “helping”—it’s about co-creating solutions. Actionable steps: 1. Ask before acting. Listen deeply to the community or customer. 2. Include customers in the process. Or build teams representative of your customer base. Design with, not for. 3. Challenge assumptions. True impact starts with collaboration.

Community engagement strategies are often overcomplicated. Here are 3 insights I've gained through my work with Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and Consensus Building Institute on the Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub. 💡 Connection with the target community is THE most important aspect of outreach and engagement. Too many people have negative associations with governments and NGOs, and for good reason. There's a history in the social impact space of paternalism and negligence. In order to begin rebuilding relationships, show up with honesty and a genuine desire to learn before making recommendations, asking for time/energy, and designing initiatives. Real recognizes real. 💡 Meet people where they are. In a similar vein to above, attempting to drive people toward one action, meeting, or goal, without building a rapport is a waste of time, energy, and resources. Once you have an understanding and relationship with the community you want to serve, you have a better understanding of how to get their input. This involves actually BEING in the community. If people know you from the bodega, church, or the grocery store, or from roasting that cringey Ice Spice Dunkin Donuts commercial (see photo below) they're more likely to hear what you have to say and respond with authenticity. 💡 Offer a tangible, immediate benefit. The social-impact space can be alarmingly extractive. Be conscious of the power differential in your initiatives and proactively mitigate this by compensating all participants. Provide childcare, dinner, a gift card - something! Folks working in this space often forget that the daily issues marginalized communities face take higher priority than completing a survey. Actively anticipate this and find ways to make engagement attractive. 🗣 Social impact professionals, I want to hear your thoughts! What insights, tips, or practices have worked in your community engagement initiatives? Share below in the comments! ---- 💌 I'm back from a short LI hiatus and gearing up for my monthly #opendoorclimate group call this Saturday, 6/1, at 2p EST. If you'd like to learn more about my journey or find out more about what it means to work in climate, sustainability, and energy, send me a DM with the word #opendoorclimate and I'll forward the registration link!

I used to think creating community health change was as simple as writing a solid policy, presenting strong data, and launching a well-designed program. I was wrong. We have entered communities with research-backed strategies and the best intentions only to be met with silence, resistance, or polite disengagement. We have the evidence and the framework, but we didn’t have their trust, which doesn’t come from statistics. It comes from sitting with people, listening without agenda, and allowing their lived experiences to shape the process. We sometimes show up with answers before even asking the right questions. Next time 
✅ If you want lasting change, start with listening.
✅ Build programs with communities, not just for them.
✅ Trust is built in conversation, not in spreadsheets. People don’t want to be told what’s best for them. They want to be heard, respected, and included. That’s how real public health impact happens, and we move from talk to transformation. Let’s stop designing public health around systems and start designing it around people. What’s one change you wish your community could make to make health services more accessible and inclusive? Are you ready to move from talk to action? Let’s connect. #DrSumayya #thepublichealthmuse #communityfirst #publichealthadvocate #Inclusivehealth