It has become something of a cliché in the community sector — "meeting people where they are." Like many clichés, it contains a genuine truth that has been worn smooth by overuse. What does it actually mean, in practice, to meet someone where they are?
We have been thinking about this question carefully as we develop our programs and approach. Here is what we have concluded.
It starts with not assuming
The first and most important thing about meeting people where they are is resisting the urge to assume you already know where that is. Organisations that work with disadvantaged communities often carry assumptions — sometimes conscious, often not — about what those communities need, what they are capable of, and what success should look like for them.
Those assumptions, even when well-intentioned, can be a significant barrier. They lead to programs designed for a population that does not quite exist — programs that miss the mark because they were built on someone else's idea of the problem rather than on genuine engagement with the people experiencing it.
Presence before prescription
Meeting people where they are requires presence before prescription. It requires spending time in communities — listening, observing, asking questions, and sitting with uncertainty — before reaching for solutions.
This is uncomfortable for organisations that are under pressure to demonstrate impact quickly. But programs built on genuine understanding tend to work better and last longer than programs built on speed. The investment in listening pays dividends.
The communities we serve are not problems to be solved. They are people with strengths, aspirations, and histories — people who deserve to be engaged with honestly and respectfully.
Flexibility as a core competency
Meeting people where they are also requires organisational flexibility. It means being willing to adjust program timing, location, format, and content in response to what participants actually need — not just what is easiest to deliver.
For some participants, this might mean offering programs in community settings rather than formal offices. For others, it might mean adjusting the pace of delivery, providing additional support with literacy or digital skills, or building in more time for relationship development before moving to structured content.
The long view
Finally, meeting people where they are requires taking a long view. Change — real, lasting change — does not happen in a single program cycle. It happens over time, through sustained relationships and ongoing support.
We are committed to being the kind of organisation that stays present over the long term — that builds relationships with communities, not just with individuals, and that measures success not just at the end of a program but over years.
That is what we mean when we say we meet people where they are. Not a slogan, but a practice — and a commitment.