BOX 1—

Examples of Successful Practices to Create a Sustainable Community Engagement Structure

Principle	Description
Create a space of meaningful listening and co-learning	Limit the number of representatives from the academic research partner. Set agendas and make project decisions in partnership with CBOs, such as naming the CSC (i.e., NYCHA Resident COVID-19 Response initiative). Allot time for partners to provide updates about their work related to SARS-CoV-2 and share information, ideas, and communities’ perspectives on the pandemic.
Establish trustworthiness and respect	Co-chairs of CSC are from the community, not an academic medical center. Communicate late-breaking information about the pandemic to community partners early and often. Address misinformation and disinformation by serving as scientific experts at virtual town halls, Facebook Live sessions, and other events organized by our partners.
Acknowledge inequities and justified mistrust	Engage in deep discussions during meetings, including history of medical mistrust and abuse in research and implications of our research protocols in the community.
Engage in bidirectional communication and transparency	Establish biweekly meetings with CBO partners, frequent e-mail communication, and community‒partner mediations as needed. Report research updates, challenges and barriers to the study, grant funding announcements, new developments about SARS-CoV-2, and planned projects (e.g., RADx-UP phase 2).
Ensure transparency of information and data	Partner with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for weekly data on COVID-19 testing and infection rates in NYCHA. Identify uptake of testing and infection rates in the NYC public housing population. Summarize and report data in plain language to the CSC and members of the CSC. Assist with forming recommendations to the municipal agency partners on where city mobile testing vans and pop-up clinics should be placed.

Note. CBO = community-based organization; CSC = Community Steering Committee; NYCHA = New York City Housing Authority; RADx-UP = Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations; SARS-CoV-2 = severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.