As planners, our approach in engaging the La Campana community is rooted in participatory action research.
Participatory action research is the leading method for social planners who want to address issues of social inequalities. This method requires deep listening to the community’s needs and priorities – as expressed by them – robust community engagement and participation, and continued self reflection on one’s attitudes and actions in the field. It is about entering the community where you’re invited with an open heart and mind, and facilitating a safe and creative space for the participants to develop and implement their own ideas. It is not about controlling the process, projecting one’s own ideas on the community, or holding judgements about local knowledge and practices.
Over the last semester, we read The Heart of Community Engagement: Practitioner Stories from Across the Globe, written by our professor Dr. Patricia Wilson. This book delved into case studies of various participatory planners around the world who had personal transformations that informed their work in very meaningful ways.
We also met with various local stakeholders in meetings, workshops, and visioning sessions to better understand how we could support the La Campana and Barrio Esperanza communities in their efforts. Below is a photo slideshow of some of those moments.
