Table 3.

Quotes Illustrating the Individual Impacts of Engaging Richmond

Skills “Just getting those one-on-one interaction skills with people and help sharpening skills in my community …” “Public speaking was the number one thing for me, being able to feel comfortable with myself … And then having feedback from my peers saying ‘Oh [name] you did such a good job,’ or ‘wow you really came through.’”

Knowledge and understanding “Now, I actually see the neighborhoods completely totally different. And I grew up in them all my life. And I just found that to be one of those WOW moments … It caused me to look a whole lot different, to have a little bit more understanding, a lot more open-mindedness.” “My skills and knowledge have increased … I certainly have learned more about people’s concerns about hypertension and diabetes and some of the barriers that they face and issues that are relevant.” “I’ve become aware of a whole lot more situations and circumstances as to why things are the way they are and how to possibly fix those in some circumstances. Things that I would not have probably cared about or given a second thought before.”

Agency “I used to wonder, just like so many residents in there, about how could we go about getting more information to the community about different resources, different service providers. Why isn’t this being done, why isn’t that being done? Who do we go to? Who do we talk to? How do we got some of these materials? All these questions that I had in my head was answered just by me being part of this team.” “But when I became a part of this group it just enlightened a lot of things for me … It’s just given me a bigger voice. More like I could really help the people that’s around me.” “I can look at the bigger picture. Now I can see, I look further than helping me.”

Personal growth “I never in a million years would have expected to gain what I gained from it on a team level or on a personal level.” “I’ve grown a lot through this. I know anything is possible regardless of what type of lifestyle you lived in the past. If you decide to walk the right walk, doors will open.” “I think that it has given us as residents a sense of purpose.” “It basically opened the door for me to go to the next level in my life.”