You should allow a good amount of time for an initial mapping process, keeping in mind that the process is on-going, and you will continue to learn more about the community and issue. You may find the following questions helpful: 1. What do you know about the community? 2. Who’s in the area? – demographics, organisations 3. What’s in the area? - Resources or organisations, institutions (churches, schools, hospitals, universities, city hall, etc.), unique or problematic features (amusement parks, factories, etc.), landmarks 4. What are issues and/or tensions? 5. What issues do people care about? 6. Who are the local decision makers? 7. Who influences decision makers? 8. What are the “low hanging fruit” – the issues more easily addressed 9. What are potential blocks threats or challenges 10. What are public places of congregation 11. What is happening in the community? calendar of cultural events and activities Source Dave Muhly, Sierra Club. This resource is included, with Dave’s permission, in the Community Organising training guide published by the Change Agency and Pasifika. The 296 page training guide can be purchased in hard copy or downloaded as a pdf from https://www.thechangeagency.org Tool 8: Windshield and walking surveys When to use Purpose Time Resources Stages 3 & 4 Useful for community mapping as it encourages community members to get a sense of itself as a community 2 – 4 hours paper, markers, sticky notes, snacks One way to get a sense of a community is to drive or walk around it, observing and taking note of its characteristics. These windshield and walking surveys can be an important part of a community assessment. Windshield surveys are systematic observations made from a moving vehicle. Walking surveys are systematic observations made on foot or on a bike. Either or both can help community members better understand their community in general or a specific condition or aspect of it. Windshield surveys are particularly useful when the area you want to observe is large, and the aspects you’re interested in can be seen from the road. A walking survey might be a better choice when you’re seeking to understand things that are harder to see from a moving vehicle. Windshield and walking surveys can be used to assess general community needs – to estimate the APF HRCLD Guide 76