Community Maps

OVERVIEW

This activity maps the participants’ local routes and communities. This activity can have various focuses, creating a map of community services, access to greenspaces, social spaces, school and work, etc.

Objectives

• To map the local routes of participants

• To identify specific areas they have access to

Suggested Supplies

• Paper

• Markers

• Arts supplies

STEP-BY-STEP FACILITATION GUIDE

Each participant will create a map that traces routes from their homes to various areas. There are several prompts that can be used based on what is relevant to your project. You might prefer prompts that reveal access to waterways, greenspaces, or neighbourhood support services. You might use prompts based on emotional relationships to place, like where they feel safe or happy. You might use prompts to reveal safety strategies, like routes they prefer to take and others that they avoid. The goal is for the group to map their routes to tell a story about their relationships to where they live, study, or work.

Examples prompts:

• Where do you go to access greenspaces?

• Where do you do to access waterways?

• Where do you go to be somewhere quiet?

• Where are your favourite areas to visit or walk through?

• Where do you go grocery shopping?

• Where do you access health or wellness services?

• Where do you spend time with your friends?

• Which routes feel safer to take?

• Which routes do you avoid?

• Which routes do you take from home to work or school, or both? What do you pass along the way?

On their map, they should identify the routes they are taking to these places, not simply where they are going.

Reflection

Debrief the exercise by asking questions about their experience drawing their maps. Participants do not need to share their maps with one another, but may decide to do so as they respond to discussion questions:

• Do you usually take the same routes?

• Where are places you frequent or avoid?

Tip for Facilitators

Create a map as well! Join the activity and share your routes to help guide the activity forward.