COMMUNITY-MAPPING

DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO COMMUNITY-MAPPING

 Community Mapping:
Arts-Based Research Approach

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 What is Community Mapping?

• Community mapping is a cartographic (map making) practice

that honours the local and personal knowledge of ordinary
people
• Through this process participants share their knowledge by
making maps as a way to spatially and visually represent their
experiences, which include the social, economic, and cultural
contexts of their lives.
• It is a research and learning process that focuses on coming to
a greater understanding of the intersection of ‘self and place’

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PRACTICED IN ANCIENT TIMES ALREADY
 Purpose of Community Mapping?

• Encourages ordinary people and those who are marginalized

from public life and political process to come together to
record significant aspects of their neighbourhood and their
relation to it.

• Facilitates the process of learning and facilitates dialogue

among members of the community from the ‘bottom up” as a
way to transform traditional “top down” power relationships
into more equitable, transparent, and participatory political
process.

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Community Mapping (Map Anchored Interviews)
“When we first came here, we had very high expectations because we were
coming to Toronto…but it is not good. Nobody takes care of the surroundings.
On apartment terraces, you cannot see flowers. People are always storing things
there. It is ugly. I can find gardens near my building, but they are not managed
nicely. There is a lot of garbage here. Surroundings are important - they make
me smile and relax, so I can go with a smiling face.”

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“The Bleeker St. basketball court is not a safe or healthy place for kids. That’s
where older kids hang out with younger kids and smoke and sell drugs.
....Younger kids look up to older kids and respond to peer pressure. That’s
younger teens are getting into trouble with the law and stuff like that.”
why

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“…People here are busy. They work 2 jobs to cover their costs. You can’t find
anyone to talk to. Sometimes you need to sit and chat and have a conversation
with people. Usually, I meet some people in the library...Every time you meet a
new person you may not see them again. This is frustrating. If a person has
friends, relations, that they can meet, talk together, have conversation with,
maybe they will feel like they are someone. …You ask yourself “What is going on
here?” Maybe the culture is different. Different from mine.”

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 Photovoice :
Arts-Based Participatory Research
Approach

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 What is Photovoice?

Photovoice asks you to take photographs

of things that are important to you - and
to tell the story of why these things are
important. The visual images and
accompanying stories are the tools used
to reach policy- and decision-makers.
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 Why use Photovoice?
• Powerful way to approach empowerment and advocacy
• Rewards of taking photographs are immediate
• Photography is fun and creative
• Taking photographs can change participants’ perceptions
about their social and physical environment
• Basic photography is easy to learn and accessible to all
• “A picture is worth a thousand words”
• Images are understood regardless of language or culture
• Policy makers & program planners cannot deny reality
when images are staring them in the face
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 Who should use Photovoice?
A few examples:
• Children and youth in difficult circumstances e.g. orphans, children
forced into job market, children and youth living under the threat of
violence because of war or crime
• Homeless adults and families
• People with disabilities or mental health issues
• People with chronic diseases/medical conditions e.g. HIV, TB etc.
• Members of racial, ethnic, linguistic, or cultural minorities
• People who are discriminated against because of class, caste, way of
life
• The urban poor, whose concerns and strengths are often different
from
those of the larger society
• Women and men, to highlight gendered social and health issues
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 SHOWED:
Guideline for story writing

One way of exploring photographs:

• What do you See here?
• What’s really Happening here?
• How does this relate to Our lives?
• Why does this problem/condition/strength exist?
• How could this image Educate the community/policy makers/ etc?
• What can we Do to improve the situation, or two enhance these
strengths?

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 A few examples of the range of
information that can be collected
using Photovoice

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 PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
© Wellesley Institute

As a child, one way I kept myself occupied with my time was through playing basketball. It not only
kept me off the streets, but also wasted the majority of my time, keeping me active. If more
community programs ran such activities, it would bring the community closer and keep children off
the streets away from any type of violence. These activities are strengths in our community as
children are kept away from trouble. (Youth,SJT. 2010)
 PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Overcrowding
... In a neighbourhood such as St. James
Town where most people live in high rise
buildings and come from low income
families it may not seem like the best
idea to build more buildings when we
don’t already have that much green
space around. This issue relates to your
lives because we need more things than
buildings around our community, such as
more parks, centres for youth but
instead we invest in building and more
buildings.
(Youth,SJT. 2010)

© Wellesley Institute
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 SOCIAL

Safety, Crime, Drugs, Fear

ATTRIBUTES
© Wellesley Institute

The picture shows a memorial of a residence of St. James Town whose life was robbed off him last
year due to gun violence. The person who murdered “Juice” is yet to be found. It just comes to
show11/17/2011
that more security is needed in the area. A lot of undercover police are the area dressing23up
as drug dealers or buyers but they are usually easily spotted and pin pointed.
 SOCIAL

ATTRIBUTES

© Wellesley Institute
This is related to our lives because every day we are witness to some type of harmful
carcinogens produced by these cigarettes. Whether second hand, or first hand smoke, living in
St. James Town means a high chance of encountering cigarettes. Because of this more people
are exposed to harmful chemicals.
 SOCIAL

ATTRIBUTES
“The Tsismis Tree” Tsismis is a word in Tagalog that means gossip. This
tree is treasured by many immigrants because we meet here to share
experiences and support each other. Common spaces are important to
the wellbeing of both individuals and the community.

These different flowers represent people from different places and the vase represents this
country. If we arrange the flowers properly, they turn into a beautiful flower arrangement. If
people of different backgrounds are given equal opportunities and are accepted, everyone
benefits.

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© Wellesley
1 Institute
 ECONOMIC ATTRIBUTES
© Wellesley Institute

This tiny tunnel connects one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada, St. James Town, to one
of the most affluent, Rosedale. The short journey of crossing the bridge is actually painful,
arduous, and for the most part, impossible for the most, if not all, of the individuals living in SJT.
Despite being highly educated, newcomers have difficulty gaining recognition, and
consequently,
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 ECONOMIC ATTRIBUTES
Food Quality

How much can we trust our food supply? We don’t only care
about the price of goods, we also pay attention to our health.
We want to get good service when we go to the supermarket.
© Wellesley Institute

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© Wellesley Institute

“Anyone out there?” Our plea for help went unheeded and we were
buried in an overwhelming wave of ‘that’s not our problem’.
Anyone out there? Are you listening?
 Concept Mapping:
Semi-Quantitative
Participatory Planning and
Evaluation Tool

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 What is Concept Mapping?

Concept mapping is a process for gathering and

organizing the input of many different people into a
single, shared conceptual framework. This framework
forms the basis for further value analysis, planning,
action, or evaluation.
Bill Trochim

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Through
Photovoice
CM Methodology Steps
Planning: Planners and key issue advisors
develop a focus prompt and identify participants
Idea Generation: Communities of interest and
expertise are identified, and respond with
brainstormed ideas
Structuring: Communities of interest and expertise
sort and rate the results of the idea development,
authoring the structure and value domain of the issue
Representation: Compute the maps, pattern matches
and “go zones,” and prepare them for
interpretation by communities of interest.
Interpretation and Use: Strategies and tactics for
action follow directly from the interpretation of the results.
Pattern matches and go zones help build consensus on
action.
Through
Photovoice
CM Methodology Steps
Planning: Planners and key issue advisors
develop a focus prompt and identify participants
Idea Generation: Communities of interest and
expertise are identified, and respond with
brainstormed ideas
Structuring: Communities of interest and expertise
sort and rate the results of the idea development,
authoring the structure and value domain of the issue
Representation: Compute the maps, pattern matches
and “go zones,” and prepare them for
interpretation by communities of interest.
Interpretation and Use: Strategies and tactics for
action follow directly from the interpretation of the results.
Pattern matches and go zones help build consensus on
action.
What is Concept Mapping of Photovoice ?

Ideas represented in
photographs…

…are sorted into groups…

… and rated on two

Decide how
to manage
multiple
tasks. Manage resources effectively.
20 4

Work
quickly
and
areas.
effectivel
y under
pressure
49

Organize the
work when
directions are
not specific.
39

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 Concept Mapping

Sorting the Photovoice Photos Examining the Relationships in the Concept Map

11/
17/
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201
 Concept Mapping Results:
a CBPR project on Neighbourhood & Health and Wellbeing

A Shared Framework: regional view of CM

Concept Mapping
takes the ideas of
individuals and
combines using
multivariate
statistical methods
to form unique
visual
representations
called Concept
Maps.

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 Each cluster retains the details
The hopes and dreams of the residents could be
expressed in the development of a beautiful
common space tegether. A lush green urban
We live in such a crowded place and we don’t have space is the dream of everyone in SJT; however
enough green space. Plants give us oxygen & give this is difficult because residents do not own
us a beautiful visual sense as well. (76) this land or feel a sense of ownership. (9)

This is a soothing sight for tired eyes,

an effective distraction from the barren
concrete jungle around...(6)

76
..... making SJT look beautiful and clean
Green Space 72
would make residents feel good about
themselves (53) 6
9

53 74
67

Green space is very important. The addition of

green space to a building can provide a sense of
community since tenants can get to know one
another as they enjoy this space together. This is
Allen gardens. Residents should not have to go
outside the community to find quality parks with
good amenities. (67)
Pattern Match: Average ratings of Clusters in
terms of Importance and Action
Importance Action Potential
Pattern 4.12 3.51

Matching is a Improvement for Health Society

Safety
process that Improvement for Health
Environment
allows the Sense of Pride
Need Social & Protection Environment
comparison of
Attractions
opinions or view Safety

to determine the Education Green Space

Green Space Lack of Maintenance &Improvement

degree to which Sense of Pride Attractions
groups or ideas Lack of Maintenance Need Social and Protection

match or Society Education

disconnect. 3.56
3.08

r = .12
* Absolute values for ratings range from 1-5
 Go-Zones: Comparing Statements in a Cluster
r=.
4.03 61
A Go- 61 56

Low Importance
Zone High Action 17
37 262
15 16
Potential 122
Report is a 65
32
13 44
6714 4239
bivariate 249 2 7 7
Action Pot ntial

16 28 48
3 412 3 3433 10 541366
8
3.29 6 33041380 71
49
25
scatter plot e
36 26
35
47
5343
52
72
11 6 5
69 241564
70
58

20 68 8
that shows 60
51579
77
57
73
4 0
5
7454
65
7

how the Low Importance

2
High Importance

items in a Low Action Potential

19
Low Action
Potential
59
cluster are 2.39
2.39 3.8 4.54
related. Importanc
e
Advantages of Using Arts-Based Research
Techniques
• Non threatening methods
• Usually not conceived as “research”
• Engage disadvantaged population in research and advocacy
• Builds trust & empowers disadvantaged population
• Transfer ownership of the project to participants
• Help common voices heard by decision makers
• Understand participants perspectives on health and other issues
through their lenses

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Limitations of using Arts-based Techniques

• The time commitment necessary may be daunting for participants and

researchers

• Participants may have difficulty in presenting complex or abstract ideas

through images and drawings

• Limitations of cross sectional design and qualitative design applies to

arts-based study designs

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 Building Partnerships with
Stakeholders

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 SJT Initiative Youth Photo Voice Project

© The Wellesley Institute

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© Wellesley Institute
 Photo Journalist: Training Workshop 1
© Wellesley Institute

September 23, 2011 |

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 Important Stakeholders: Training Workshop 2
© Wellesley Institute

September 23, 2011 |

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 Community Level Actions

November-17-11 |
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 Community Forum & Expo: March 20, 2008
© Wellesley Institute

© The Wellesley Institute

www.wellesleyinstitute.com | www.sjtinitiative.com
 Community Forum & Expo: September 18, 2010

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© Wellesley Institute
 Resident Group
Presenting at
Counselor ’s Off ice
© Wellesley Institute

© The Wellesley Institute

11/17/2011 www.wellesleyinstitute.com | www.sjtinitiative.com 48
Change & Action

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Work To Do:

1. Draw or present a community map of your workplace, you

may use any approach even that which was not discussed I
our lesson
2. Analyze the interaction of space, people and structure and
produce a theory. This is social investigation at the same
time
3. What challenges and opportunities are present in your
community?
4. Propose a moral development and recovery program by
citing studies and literature already produced (ex. Piaget,
Maslow, Freud, etc.) This section will satisfy as a
requirement of our afternoon session