Highlights: Engaging Other Campus Community Members in ATOD Work

Feb 22, 2022 | Home Page, Peer Exchange

 

Lauresa Wigfall from the UMES ATOD Center shared lessons she had learned from building relationships in the campus community. Her partnerships include:

  • People who manage logistics for campus events
  • School of Pharmacy
  • Student organizations
  • SGA leadership
  • Local health department
  • Chief of Police

Key Takeaways:

  • Be polite! “Please” and “thank you” go a long way.
  • Get out of your silo and be available to work on projects outside ATOD.
  • Meet people in person and make eye-contact.
  • Meet people where they are. For example, if trying to form community partnerships, go out into the community to talk to people.
  • Think of people you would not normally think are interested in prevention work – they might end up being your biggest collaborators!
  • Ask for help when you need it.
  • Keep open lines of communication with campus and community
    partners and share information when you get it.
  • Building partnerships does not happen overnight. Keep reaching out.
    Give it time.
  • Do not give up. Someone is always listening to your message even if you are unaware at the time.
  • Work on capacity building with everyone. No one is too big or too small to connect with.
  • Do not be afraid to ask experts in other areas for help.
  • Work smarter, not harder!

Other Takeaways:

  • Learn to say “No” if there is too much on your plate.
  • Use MD-CAS data in setting your agendas. For example, rely on your strategic objectives when trying to decide which tasks to take on.
Download the PDF

Highlights: Engaging Other Campus Community Members in ATOD Work

Feb 22, 2022 | Home Page, Peer Exchange

 

Lauresa Wigfall from the UMES ATOD Center shared lessons she had learned from building relationships in the campus community. Her partnerships include:

  • People who manage logistics for campus events
  • School of Pharmacy
  • Student organizations
  • SGA leadership
  • Local health department
  • Chief of Police

Key Takeaways:

  • Be polite! “Please” and “thank you” go a long way.
  • Get out of your silo and be available to work on projects outside ATOD.
  • Meet people in person and make eye-contact.
  • Meet people where they are. For example, if trying to form community partnerships, go out into the community to talk to people.
  • Think of people you would not normally think are interested in prevention work – they might end up being your biggest collaborators!
  • Ask for help when you need it.
  • Keep open lines of communication with campus and community
    partners and share information when you get it.
  • Building partnerships does not happen overnight. Keep reaching out.
    Give it time.
  • Do not give up. Someone is always listening to your message even if you are unaware at the time.
  • Work on capacity building with everyone. No one is too big or too small to connect with.
  • Do not be afraid to ask experts in other areas for help.
  • Work smarter, not harder!

Other Takeaways:

  • Learn to say “No” if there is too much on your plate.
  • Use MD-CAS data in setting your agendas. For example, rely on your strategic objectives when trying to decide which tasks to take on.
Download the PDF
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