Sharing Stories, Shaping Communities

They begin with brainstorming sessions asking general questions about what people like and don’t like about their neighborhood, activities that take place in their neighborhood, local history, and traditions. They make lists and share stories. “We are not asking for something unknown,” explains Maren King, Assistant Director. “Everyone learns from one another and it can be surprising to find out things about your neighborhood or town that you didn’t know.”

While the process can get people talking, the challenge is to get at the physical aspects of what is shared by community members. This is where Cheryl’s background as an art teacher and studio instructor has been instrumental. “Unlike professional architects and planners, most of us don’t talk directly about spatial issues,” she explains. This is what the CCDR refers to as the visioning process—“attaching locations and places to the information that’s shared.”

In the workshop I attended, residents were there to discuss front yard and street improvements. They were asked to identify examples of what they hoped to achieve by marking their locations on large maps visible to the group. “Patterns begin to emerge and connections are made visible before everyone’s eyes,” says Cheryl. This can have tremendous impact. In working on a project to design a Healing Garden for a neighborhood in Syracuse where two teens had been murdered, it was discovered in meeting with residents that violence was affecting the whole community. More than a memorial, the residents identified the need and location for a safe and cared-for community gathering space.

The process can be eye-opening for designers as well. “You are reminded that you are designing for people. The process humanizes the design which can often be lost in professional practice where the focus is on the “I” and not on those who actually live in the community,” says Maren. “We get at the kind of the information that doesn’t appear on surveys and maps but comes from talking. We believe that the results are better because they are generated by the local citizens.”

According to Cheryl and Maren, the real value of their work lies in the educational component for all parties involved. “Sustainability is at the core of our efforts,” they note. As an academic program, their goal is to educate future designers so that they are trained in working with community as professionals. For state agencies, community leaders, and town planners, too, their hope is that the relationships that are built out of working together continue into the future.

The CCDR is one of many organizations working to bring community directly into the planning process. In Philadelphia where I live, I’ve discovered an organization called the CDC, the Community Design Collaborative. The CDC brings pro bono design services to communities looking for assistance through a volunteer network of professional designers and planners. The Association for Community Design is a great resource for locating community-minded professionals and organizations in your city or state.

With this in mind, go out and share your stories with your community members!