The document discusses how culture and other factors affect the social organization and leadership of communities. It provides examples of social networks and ethnic organizations that can help identify community leaders and engage groups. Finally, it addresses challenges to community engagement like expectations of leaders, misperceptions, language barriers, and tensions between subgroups.

1. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
Understanding Culture, Social
Organization, and Leadership
to Enhance Engagement

2. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
How does culture and other factors
affect the social organization of a
community?
• In the Chinese community
• In the African American community
• In the Central American community
• In the Caribbean community

3. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
How does culture and other factors
affect the leadership of a community?
• What do we think are the qualities that a leader
should have?
• What do all these leaders have in common?
• What did you learn from the examples?

4. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
What are examples of social networks and ethnic
organizations that a community builder can use to learn
about the social organization of a group, to identify and
engage its leaders?
• Identify natural gathering points and traditions related to social gatherings.
• Build on the informal networks of women
• Gain entry and credibility through traditional leadership structures.
• Identify and work with the "bridge generation."
• Ask national organizations that serve and advocate on behalf of different racial,
ethnic, and cultural groups for assistance.
• Take advantage of ethnic neighborhoods.

5. Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas
What are the challenges that you are
aware of and how can the challenges
be overcome?
• Expectations of community leaders
• Misperceptions in the community
• Linguistic skills
• Tensions between subgroups