Strategic Earth approaches each project through a community and inclusivity lens. As a team, we believe the most effective community engagement plans empower diverse stakeholders and connect with audiences that are typically underrepresented during decision-making processes.
To us, that doesn’t mean simply “checking a box” or adding names to an email list, but rather making a commitment to creating opportunities for meaningful exchanges. Through years of dedication and on-the-ground involvement, our team has developed deep-rooted connections with a variety of groups and individuals who have strong ties to natural resource access and use, including California Native Nations and Native community.
Teresa Romero, Director of Native Nations, leads Strategic Earth’s Tribal engagement work. As an enrolled member of the Coastal Band of Chumash Nation and the leader of the Native Coast Action Network, Teresa brings both her personal and professional perspectives to each community engagement project and provides crucial insights to strengthen Tribal engagement outreach strategies.
Teresa will be the first to tell you, developing meaningful relationships with Native community takes time. “Working together successfully requires establishing a bond based on trust within the relationship you are building. That takes time, and it doesn’t happen overnight, but it can be done,” explains Teresa.
To set outreach efforts up for success, Strategic Earth fosters conversations within the local community, including Native Nations and Native community, agency staff, nonprofit leaders, and residents. Teresa plays a key role in guiding these conversations.
“Strategic Earth fosters relationships through facilitation, bringing about conversations through vulnerabilities. Not everyone agrees with everyone, so it’s about having thoughtful—sometimes even difficult—conversations with respect and without causing harm. Strategic Earth keeps relationships at the forefront of conversations and facilitates in a way where everyone is respected,” said Teresa.
For each community outreach project, Teresa’s goal is to create a collaborative environment where outcomes support everyone involved, serving the entire community in a good way. “That’s why it’s essential to have engagement done, not just with Tribes, but with the broader community. Bringing these groups together can be educational on both levels. Native community members want to hear what is happening in other conversations because it helps Indigenous and Native folks contribute their own thoughts – and vice versa.”
Teresa Romero is the Director of Native Nations at Strategic Earth, an enrolled member of the Coastal Band of Chumash Nation, and runs the Native Coast Action Network. Teresa answered the questions below in conversation with Strategic Earth Associate, Priya Shukla. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Establishing meaningful, intentional, and inclusive approaches to Tribal engagement is essential to building relationships and ensuring project success. Email us or call (310) 876-8087 to explore how Strategic Earth can support your team in designing authentic community collaborations that help move your project forward.