“HIGHLIGHTING METHODS FOR ASSESSING COMMUNITY READINESS FOR ACTION:  COMMUNICATION WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS”

Thursday, Thursday, October 17, 6:30.

UA Little Rock Downtown

UA Little Rock Downtown hosted UA, Little Rock, alumna, and former faculty member, Dr. Christina Standerfer on October 17, 2019.   Dr. Standerfer spoke on the use of citizen involvement to shape policies and processes that affect everyday life and are paramount for a vibrant Democracy.  Dr. Christina Standerfer is a professor emerita and former faculty director at the Office of Community Engagement at the Clinton School of Public Service.  Standerfer’s lecture will draw on more than 20 years of experience conducting research and working in collaboration with nonprofit and governmental organizations to build healthy communities. “There is a need for scholars and practitioners to understand and assess community readiness for action in order to set realistic expectations concerning the efficacy of communication methods used to engage them,”Standerfer said.

Using analysis of data gathered from over 2- communities across Arkansas, Stander presented a matrix of factors to be considered to assess community readiness for collection action.  Standerfer also discussed a model of progressive steps for community readiness for action that can help determine appropriate communication methods of engagement.

Stamderfer has published articles on nonprofit accountability, the changing nature of civil society and the importance of understanding the role of public discourse in facilitating social justice.

Standerfer’s most current work focuses on ways to curb rising rates of diabetes.  She has been awarded grants from the Arkansas Department of Health and the Kettering Foundation to conduct focus groups, interviews, and round table discussions to gather and synthesize diverse perceptions of the disease and ways to best address it.