BRIDGING VISION AND ACTION

PRACTICAL STEPS FOR EMBEDDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS

A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP WAS HELD

January 22, 2025

12 noon - 1 p.m.

Amplifying your community engagement.

This community engagement training was designed to equip aging sector leaders and staff with the tools and strategies needed to effectively connect with and involve communities in planning and development processes. This invaluable training was powered by Ziag Management Consulting LLC and provided at no charge thanks to an Age-Friendly Minnesota Council grant.

Building stronger relationships. Improving decision-making. Fostering long-term community impact.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants:

Learned how to define clear engagement activities, identify and understand key stakeholders, and select the right methods for gathering input and communicating results.
Explored how to determine the appropriate level of engagement at different stages of your project to ensure community voices are heard and valued.
Reviewed how to evaluate the success of engagement efforts, measure community satisfaction, and use feeback to drive future improvements.

PROGRAM FACULTY

List of Services

CHAO YANG
A first-generation Hmong American Woman, Yang has a proven commitment to the aging sector and a passion for the engagement of cultural communities. She has a track record of empowering people through collective efforts and leading change through research, policy and programming.

Chao brings a rich history of experience to her work, including service as an Asian Health Liaison for policymakers, supervisor of the Asian COVID-19 Response Team, Assistant Director for the University of Minnesota's Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Senior Public Health Educator for Ramsey County Public Health, and Community Health Coordinator at the University of Minnesota. She has also served in key roles at Nexus Community Partners, Minnesota Council of Foundations, and the YMCA.

Chao is the Principal Consultant at Ziag Management Consulting LLC and also serves as the Director of Equity and Engagement for the MN Leadership Council on Aging.

Yang holds a BS in Human Resource Development/Business Marketing Education from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities as well as a Master's in Public Health (MPH) from their Executive Public Health Administration and Policy program.

Learn more about Chao >

AUDIENCE

We welcomed a broad array of leaders serving across Minnesota's field of aging. We called on age-friendly grantees, state agency staff, non-profit executives, managers, board members, policy makers, social workers, aging services leadership, nursing leadership, medical directors, higher education faculty, researchers, foundation program officers, and others interested in community engagement.

You did not need to be a MN Leadership Council on Aging member to attend this workshop; all were welcome!

Community Engagement Office Hours

Chao is offering dedicated office hours to provide guidance, answer questions, and help you with your community engagement efforts. Here is how they work:

When: Wednesdays, from 10 a.m .- 1 p.m .
How: Register in advance for this virtual Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
What to Expect: Office hours are open for drop-in conversations; we’ll address questions on a first-come, first-served basis. For more in-depth consultations, scheduling a one-on-one community engagement consultation.

Community Engagement Assistance Consultation

If you need tailored support for your initiatives, we’re here to help! You can request assistance by:

Complete the Community Engagement Assistance Consultation Request Form.
Provide details about your project, goals, and the specific type of support you need.
Expect a response within 3 business days to discuss next steps.

Your feedback and collaboration are invaluable as we work together to strengthen our communities. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions or suggestions.

This program sponsored through a Technical Assistance Grant from the Age-Friendly Minnesota Council

Call Us

Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging

PO Box 4636, St. Paul, MN 55104