Mapping Community Mapping Community Assets for Food Assets for Food EntreprenuersEntreprenuers

Carol Richardson SmithNational Catholic Rural Life Conference

MAPSMAPS

Maps are models of the world; they draw out and place on paper the images we have of place and mind

MAPSMAPS…..…..

Sort, prioritize and focus information Present a picture of the environment

which helps us to understand context Encourage us to “reinhabit” a place

with new ideas and linkages by allowing us to see “what if”

MAPS SHOW:MAPS SHOW: Key landmarks,

assets, actors, processes

Relational, position and placement information

Routes, connections and linkages

USE MAPS TO:USE MAPS TO: Picture what is known and reveal

gaps Find patterns of information,

strategy, linkages and connections Define and structure issues Discover new linkages, structures,

processes

BASIC STEPSBASIC STEPS1. Choose a basic map2. Assemble a mapping

team3. Put in key landmarks:

places, people, assets, processes

4. Add relationships: positions, linkages and connections

5. Look for possibilities

1. Choose a basic 1. Choose a basic map….map….

Geographic maps: state, county, township, city maps, GPS maps, ”then” and “now” maps

Process or system maps: process flow of a product or systems diagram as a “skeleton”, describe categories

Issue maps: select issue, put in center circle--put related ideas around outside on radiating lines, related information below the lines

………….Choose a .Choose a basic mapbasic map

Brainstormed maps: phrase a question, brainstorm the answers one concept per paper, post, sort

Associational maps: name organizations, businesses, or people, make shapes sized to perceived importance in environment, draw connections with size/color

2. 2. Assemble a Assemble a mapping teammapping team This is a synthetic, participatory process Focus is on bringing perspectives

together, finding common ground, tapping local knowledge

Name the perspectives needed to make the map complete and find people who represent them

Invite people personally, make sure they understand the importance of their knowledge to the map results

3.Put in key 3.Put in key “landmarks”“landmarks”

Geographic locations, business locations Process steps or system parts People, organizations Important issue components Assets and resources

4. Add relationships4. Add relationships

Positions: use size to indicate importance

Connections and linkages: use thickness or color code to indicate strength

Information flow: indicate direction

5. Look for 5. Look for possibilitiespossibilities

Reinhabiting is: looking at what is familiar, what is already there, with “new eyes’

Resources and assets can fill gaps

New positions may be needed

New patterns, connections, linkages could be created

Information flow can create new strategic outlooks

Renewed structures and processes could result

Analyzing local food systems for Analyzing local food systems for successsuccess

The project: Process/system map Food system skeleton Socio-technical Participation from all

stakeholder groups Analyze: “what is”, assets,

gaps and resources, strongest and weakest linkages and connections

“Reinhabit”: look at how to add value and create opportunities with local food

Sponsored by: Leopold Center at ISU Iowa Network for

Community Agriculture (INCA)

NCRLC Local economic

development and extension

What we are What we are learning…….learning…….

This is “connecting the dots” and public deliberation that is in itself an asset…..the conversation is very, very important!

Farmers who are diversifying are entreprenuers, their enterprises and connections are important to local economies

Biggest system gaps that might be opportunities for other food entreprenuers are probably in processing and strategic brokering

……..What we are ..What we are learninglearning

More assets than we think!There are markets: People who want fresh, natural food in

their daily diet, tourists; visitors interested in “the country” and foodThere is labor: Underemployed people looking for livelihood,

work near homeThere is a base to work from: Lots of small

enterprises,reservoirs of information: growing, cooking, preserving food

There are facilities and outlets: Commercial kitchens, farmer’s markets, convenience stores

People and relationships add value: Pioneers that are connected, passion for the work can build communities of practice

To To summarizesummarize:: All maps draw out and picture on paper what is in

the minds of the mappers A mapping exercise is synthetic, it brings

together many perspectives. The conversation connects the dots and becomes

a public deliberation Focus on assets or what adds value to be of most

help to entreprenuers Use those assets to “reinhabit”

Thank you!Thank you!For more information about

NCRLC and DIRECTIONS of the Ligutti Rural Community Support

Program

www.ncrlc.com/directions.html