Bringing the Community into CX Training Recording

A strong community engagement (CX) process begins with building relationships and conducting intentional outreach. Rather than relying solely on agency-driven recruitment, organizations should leverage trusted community connections and personal invitations from coalition members, community champions, and partner organizations. Effective engagement requires casting a wide net by involving both traditional and non-traditional partners—including youth, community-based organizations, and groups outside the tobacco prevention field—while seeking opportunities to collaborate and build on existing efforts instead of duplicating them. To encourage meaningful participation, meetings and materials should be accessible and easy to understand, using plain language, focusing on issues that matter to the community, and presenting data in simple, visual formats. Most importantly, participants should feel seen, valued, and heard through inclusive practices such as thoughtful follow-up, expressions of appreciation, and flexible discussion formats that empower community members to shape and guide the conversation.