When community trust is fragile, transparency and inclusion aren’t just communication goals — they’re imperatives.In just three weeks, San Mateo County designed and delivered a multilingual, grassroots outreach campaign for one of its most visible and sensitive initiatives: the public process to appoint a new sheriff. The challenge was clear — engage the public quickly and meaningfully, ensure equitable access to information, and rebuild confidence in local government and public safety institutions.This session takes attendees behind the scenes of how the County’s communications and outreach teams built a tri-lingual (English, Spanish, and Chinese) campaign that combined earned media, grassroots partner networks, and multilingual social and radio outreach. The approach, modeled after outreach efforts for COVID-19, the Census, and redistricting, shows how to activate trusted messengers and reach those traditionally left out of civic processes.Participants will walk away with adaptable tools, timelines, and message frameworks that can be applied to any high-visibility issue — from crisis response to civic engagement. This session demonstrates that rebuilding trust starts with access, transparency, and authentic community participation.