The Importance of Stakeholder Involvement
It was during the start-up phase of her YVPP grant that Patricia Chavez Anaya, project director for Esperanza del Pueblo, uncovered the nucleus of an idea to better serve the Latino community in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and address youth violence at the same time. Last year, Chavez Anaya identified stakeholders from the school system, juvenile affairs, police, local churches and ministries, neighborhood associations, and businesses who would be interested in providing guidance to establish a youth violence prevention coalition. She had no problem recruiting interested parties due to a rash of gang violence during the previous year. This was a community ready to change their neighborhood.
The Latino community in Oklahoma City is small but growing, as is the need for culturally competent social services. There was only one other agency providing services to Latinos in the city - not enough for the growing community. Services were minimal, almost nonexistent. Her stakeholder interviews and meetings uncovered the need for more than a youth violence prevention program; the community wanted and, more important, was willing to support the establishment of a new nonprofit agency to provide human services.
With the assistance of her SAMHSA grant project officer and grant management specialist, and a lot of hard work, Chavez Anaya was able to transform Esperanza del Pueblo (EDP) into a social service agency. After a herculean effort to find a suitable home for the agency (no small feat), EDP was open for business. Although its initial focus was on youth violence prevention, EDP is expanding its offerings to include job training and preparation, tutoring, mental health services and substance abuse treatment for adults, and domestic violence education and services. In addition, EDP offers training and technical assistance to human/social service agencies on developing a culturally competent organization and providing services to the Latino community.
Chavez Anaya points to EDP's successful open house last December as a true testament to community support. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for EDP's new facility was attended by 200 community members. Two state representatives carried a proclamation from the governor of Oklahoma, and EDP received good press coverage. EDP is well on its way to achieving its goal of being a self-sustaining nonprofit agency once its YVPP grant ends.
What was the key to EDP's success? Chavez Anaya advises other projects to cast a wide net for stakeholders with different skills and viewpoints. Talk with them right from the start and keep talking with them as you begin the implementation process. Stakeholders know the needs of the community best and can provide the necessary support to create change.
