Cities
behave in tricky ways. What may seem an obvious problem, or an obvious
solution often seems less so after a little research. Acting before
researching can waste time and energy. It can also reinforce the stereotype
of active citizens as highly vocal, but largely uninformed. The stereotype
is the most often-cited excuse for dismissing calls for greater citizen
participation in local decision-making.
Here
is a typical story of what can happen for lack of a little research.
People living in a quiet neighbourhood receive notice of a proposal
to use a nearby residence as a psychiatric half-way house. Fears of
"crazy people" running amok prompt them to form an ad hoc citizens group,
which moves swiftly into action to combat the proposal. Having skipped
research, they don't discover that most special needs residential facilities
(or snrfs) do not create problems, or reduce property values. They don't
discover that most snrfs are not even known to local residents. Without
these facts, the group goes to battle. Over nothing.
Gather existing information on your neighbourhood
Information on your part of town already exists. The municipal planning
department has community profiles, traffic studies, zoning and other
maps, aerial photos, and possibly an official community plan. Local
health authorities or service agencies may have a needs assessment or
more focused studies of your area. Back copies of community newsletters
and local newspapers will contain the recent history of many local issues.
Your branch of the public library will have copies of many local reports,
studies and newsletters.
Find
out what people want
In the absence of a single over-riding concern, your group will have
to identify neighbourhood issues. In many cases you will try to answer
the following questions:
-
What do residents like about the neighbourhood, and what do they want
to change?
- What are the opportunities for making the neighbourhood more interesting,
identifiable, understandable, helpful, friendly.
- What is the highest priority problem? Who is affected?
- Where is it located? What has been done? What can be done? Who can
help?
Give this research some time. A question such as, "What do you like
about the neighbourhood, and what do you want to change?", can take
a group a couple of evenings to itemize, condense and prioritize.
Consider
a survey of residents
Any survey requiring face-to-face interaction not only provides information
but helps build community.
Go
to those in the know
Interview those who know what is going on in the community, and
those who know how to deal with an issue. Often they are people with
first-hand experience. A small focus-group discussion with six teens
can reveal more about teens in the community than a survey of 500 adults.
Other sources of information are community activists, and people listed
as contact persons for community organizations.
Discover
your human resources
To really understand your neighbourhood, you need to research its capacity
to act. Start by answering these questions:
- Who can help?
- What resources does our community have: public institutions, business
groups, religious organizations, citizen associations, clubs, ethnic
groups, sports and recreational groups, cultural associations, service
groups, major property owners, businesses, individuals?
- How, why and where do people get together?
- How do people find out what is going on?
- Who most influences local decisions, local funding, and local investment?
Who has a big stake in the neighbourhood?
Research solutions from other places
A problem in your neighbourhood probably exists in other neighbourhoods
in Vancouver and other cities. Ask citizens in other cities for help;
if you have a computer and Internet access, post requests on the freenets
of other cities.
Make
a plan, and make it happen! ->
Community
Organizing
The
Citizen's Handbook:
A Guide to Building Community in Vancouver
© Charles Dobson / Vancouver Citizen's Committee
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