Community Building

Community involvement and empowerment are vital to the success of any project, and CommPac dedicates much of its efforts to building bridges of understanding between clients and the communities and groups they serve.

What it is

Community building is the art of bringing together people and ideas, minimizing conflict and building relationships that foster a “community trust bank.” It involves intensive communication at a personal level, whether at the grass roots or with community leaders and officials. In order for your business to succeed in Hawaii, local communities must be comfortable with both the project and the process by which it is introduced and developed.

How it works

CommPac advises clients on how their work affects the economy, environment and culture of the community and how to build community support around issues that support clients’ goals. We bring clients together with community members and leaders both one-on-one and in groups.

Our community building practice will assist you by:Providing information about community issues that may affect your project.

• Identifying and introducing you to key stakeholders and decision makers with whom you need to build relationships and work.
• Creating materials that tell your story credibly, creatively and consistently to community members and leaders.
• Coordinating communications among all members of your team.
• Managing external communications so that they are all consistent and work to reinforce your story with community members and decision makers.

Why it works

We don’t only talk; we listen, and we point the way to ground common to clients and communities. We are comfortable in this sensitive environment. Members of our staff are involved community leaders who have held paid and volunteer positions in local and state government, on community boards and Native Hawaiian foundations, in cultural and ethnic organizations, and in business and professional associations.