Community Engagement for Public Professionals: Interviews

This workshop on interviews is the second of a five-part series on community engagement, led by Dr. Deborah D. Stine. Building on the foundational strategies from the first workshop, participants will learn about the art and science of conducting effective interviews to equip state and local government staff with the skills needed to gather valuable insights directly from community members. Participants will learn how to design interview questions that elicit meaningful responses, select appropriate interviewees, and create an environment conducive to open dialogue. Through real-world scenarios, attendees will practice active listening techniques and learn how to analyze and interpret interview data to accurately reflect community needs and priorities. By the end of the session, participants will be prepared to use interviews as a powerful tool to enhance their community engagement efforts, ensuring that the voices of all stakeholders are heard and considered in the decision-making process. Future workshops will delve into using focus groups and surveys as well as effectively communicating engagement results and scientific and technical analysis to policymakers and the public.