Successful Communication During Disruptive, Crisis Situations: 14th Annual Competition Identifies Best Practices

ABSTRACT

With strategies ranging from homeschooling kits for parents and teachers to a clean commuting campaign to community toolkits in 17 languages, the winners of the 14th Annual Communicating Concepts to John and Jane Q. Public Competition illustrated best practices in how to communicate during disruptive, crisis situations. The tools and techniques used by the competition winners, showcased at the virtual Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in January 2021, epitomized the spirit of communicating complex information in an uncomplicated manner amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner of the competition was “ADOT Kids,” submitted by the Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT). With thousands of parents teleworking and homeschooling their children at the same time during the pandemic, the Arizona DOT communications team developed fun, interactive activities to educate and entertain children and spark their curiosity about the transportation system.