In the following pages, I outline ideas I've found useful in establishing trust. While they are certainly not definitive, they may provide helpful to others who face this challenge. Before you start, learn something about the community. Learn about its history, the people who live there, demographics, culture etc. Learning at the outset may help frame trust building issues that emerge, and prevent small problems from becoming big ones.
Every community is different, with unique opportunities and challenges.
Getting a handle on them early helps. In the beginning, accept a certain level of awkwardness as normal. Spending time with people you don't know can be initially uncomfortable. This is true for the community too. It can create a negative perception, and kill trust building at the beginning.