Don’t be surprised if your efforts to make contact and establish relationships are met with initial skepticism, distrust or even hostility. Many cultural communities have long histories of discrimination and exploitation by well-meaning outsiders. Many community members have personally experienced discriminatory treatment. Too often, research or even service organizations plan things to do to a community, rather than to do with them. The time you spend developing relationships and gathering information will be invaluable when it comes to your final step. By being sincerely interested in a community, allowing members to get to know you, and investing the time to establish trust and rapport,.
