Mobilizing People

Community partners

What is a community partner?

The first step in building your capacity to drive a successful campaign is to contact different types of organizations to broaden the reach of your campaign. Some organizations will want to work closely with you in planning and implementing the campaign. Others will want to host activities, distribute bookmarks, or even just put up posters.

In previous campaigns the OLC has conducted community consultations to identify organizations that could potentially help. Community interest was generally high, with ten to sixteen participants at each meeting. Participants not able to attend asked to be included in later meetings. Once participants understood the target groups and what the project is trying to achieve, there was a continuous flow of ideas on how to implement the campaign.

From these community consultations, organizing/steering committees were formed to help in the planning and implementation of the campaign.

Community partners may come from the following types of organizations:

  • Media, including print, electronic and web-based
  • Chamber of Commerce and business associations
  • Service clubs
  • Training and development organizations
  • Government, including employment services
  • Community and social services
  • Arts and culture
  • School boards and colleges
  • Early Years literacy programs
  • Businesses, including malls
  • Libraries