Communities index

This general checklist was developed for work with local communities interested in the use of mapping and digital communications. David Wilcox October 2018

A local project wants to work with residents and businesses to develop an online guide and communication system for the area.

The aims of the guide and system are to:

• Support an asset-based approach to community building through mapping
• Offer residents, groups and businesses the opportunity to raise their profiles
• Enable communication, co-operation and collaboration among all interests

The system should be :

• Accessible using existing consumer communication devices and tools where possible
• Co-designed with residents, groups and businesses
• Open to contributions from all residents and businesses
• Well-managed and supported, and sustainable

1. A directory of local facilities, organisations etc
2. Geomap of social infrastructure and issues
3. Netmap showing interests, wants, offers, collaborations
4. Existing local comms - Facebook, WhatsApp, blogs, Twitter etc
5. Other spaces and tools for communication and collaboration 6. People who make the system work: mapping and comms manager(s), local activists learning new methods, community and social reporters.

A Infrastructure - facilities, plans needs

• Help residents and businesses find facilities, groups and organisations in the area using a directory and map
• Show future plans for the area

Requires 1 directory, 2 geomap, and 4 online discussion, plus 3 - netmap tools for easy data entry and updating, and 6 map manager and facilitation.

B Activities - news, events, conversations

• Display local news, events and activities
• Additional contributions and conversations through existing or additional online channels

As above plus 5 additional tools and 6 more comms management.

C Cooperation, collaboration, campaigns - enabling people to see interests, wants and offers

• Find who is interested in what on a collaboration map; add and update their interests
• Connect with people on the map via an existing or new comms system
• Enable campaigning and organising when needed

As above plus 3 netmap.

D Engagement, effectiveness and organising - increase profile and impact

• Promote the system to residents and businesses
• Offer training for groups in use of the system and other tools
• Enhance existing capacity among groups and community organisers

Requires additional training and support from 6 people who make the system work.

• System designer - scope out and co-design communications and mapping system.
• System manager - responsible for mapping and comms developments
• Facilitators

• Stuff happens: could company operating systems for uncertain futures provide insights into what’s needed for civil society? - Networked City blog post October 2018
• We need civic operating systems to manage the social fabric for healthy communities – plus a social app store of tools - Networked City blog post October 2018