Engagement

We have been having a lot of discussion around the center lately about engagement.

The Las Cruces gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (glbtq) center has been open for six months, if you count from our April soft opening, and the reception has been good. We have thirteen groups meeting at the center on a monthly basis, new people coming in all the time, and the support from the greater community has been excellent. These are all good things, but we know we can do better.

Based on 2009 estimated census data, the estimated glbtq population of Dona Ana County is 10,115. If we were reaching just 1% of that population weekly we would have 101 visitors to the Las Cruces Center each week. We haven't done the analysis of our visitors log yet but we are not seeing 101 people per week. It is more like 25 people per week, hence the discussions about engagement.

A community center will never engage 100% of the community, no organization does that, but we can, and should, strive toward that level of engagement. Why are we only engaging 25% of the glbtq community in Dona Ana County? Several things come to mind off the bat. Newness. We are still new and the community is still learning about us and our programs and services. Apathy. Some members of the community may just not care or feel a need for a community center. Fear. Folks who are not out, just coming out or struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity may be afraid to come in, not knowing if their situation will be treated confidentially or if it is a safe place.

Our current programming is based on the volunteers we have and their skills, knowledge and interests. Is the programming mix correct or do we need additional or different groups? One thing we have been attempting to add since we opened is a bi-lingual capacity. We want to have either a Spanish language support group or a translator at each of our groups. The volunteers to allow us to do this have not come forward yet. We are open to starting additional groups and welcome suggestions.

Are we using the right vehicles to spread the word and is the message correct? This is the nagging question in the conversation. It is the one that we have the least information  in assessing the current situation and to plan strategy and tactics going forward.

Before we move on to build out the network of regional community centers  planned for New Mexico, we have to get Las Cruces right. This is the pilot center, the place where we work the bugs out, the place that creates the model for success in communities across New Mexico. It is in everyone's interest from Albuquerque to Hobbs, from Silver City to Taos, Farmington and Santa Fe for us to get Las Cruces right. So how do we do that? What are your thoughts?