• Consider working with a consultant to ensure your organization is culturally sensitive. Some potential evaluation areas include the organization website, participant and volunteer applications, participant and volunteer intake processes, advisory council members, and staff and volunteer training.
  • When developing public facing materials, find a translator or community partner who can help translate materials for diverse populations in the community you wish to serve. Attend different cultural events in your community and produce flyers in the languages spoken by attendees. Offer luncheons to promote your program with food from cultures represented in your community.
  • In addition to adapting programming and materials to be culturally sensitive, be sure that the program, program materials and marketing materials are at an appropriate reading level for the intended audience.
  • When including photos on public facing materials, be sure to include diverse individuals who are representative of your community in the photos you plan to use.
  • Consider the language and accessibility needs of your community. This includes offering programming and materials in non-English languages and accounting for disabilities where adaptive resources are necessary (deaf/hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, etc.)
  • Utilize the expertise of other organizations, specifically ones that are working with the populations you intend to serve. Share your materials with these community organizations and ask them to evaluate them and provide recommendations for improvements in cultural sensitivity and accessibility.
  • Translation of materials is often required for program implementation, which can be very costly. When translating program materials to other languages, be aware that not all words translate directly. For example, there is no direct translation for ‘caregiver’ in Spanish. Interpreters may not always be able to translate exactly what you say. Be aware that concepts can get lost in translation which may lead to mistrust.
  • When generating public facing materials for volunteers, participants and community organizations, consider the literacy level of your reader as well as their preferred language. Ensure that translated materials not only are properly translated but have the proper meaning. If your target audience does not read or write, identify ways to reach this audience as well.