Co-Design As A Community-Based Inclusive Practice

When it comes to engaging the community in the processes that affect them, co-design has become an extremely popular framework. It involves collaborating with the people you serve to create solutions that they believe will benefit them the most. Co-design emphasizes building upon the skills and talents of community members to creatively address challenges in a strength-based way. Co-design is about giving the community a voice and recognizing its members as the experts of their own needs. It’s about working with, not for, community members and highlighting the unique skills each person brings.

At the C.R.I.B. (Community Resources in Brooklyn) and the East New York (ENY) Family Enrichment Center, we use a co-design framework known as Appreciative Inquiry. This approach helps us create programs in partnership with local residents, incorporating their strengths and resources. We walk through a design process using the 4D’s (Discover, Dream, Design, and Deliver). At the C.R.I.B., we have an advisory board called the Dream Team, consisting of twelve community members who support the ongoing development of various initiatives. These include Parent Cafes, Wellness Activities, and Family Holiday Events.

We also have a leadership group specifically dedicated to the economic mobility of small businesses and entrepreneurs, known as “Minding Our Business” (M.O.B.). This group called the M.O.B. Squad, consists of twelve community members who are actively doing business in ENY. They come together to create opportunities for local businesses to succeed and give back to the community.

When you co-design and create with the community, there tends to be more buy-in and satisfaction. It also gives them an inside look at how things work from the program level, ultimately building more trust between the team and community, leading to program success.

– Lettice Layne, VP of Community Resource Programs at Good Shepherd Services