Tracking and reflecting on what has happened so far is important to better understand and discuss progress, successes, areas of improvement, and potential opportunities for adaptation. Constantly keeping a record of what has happened will inform future decisions and can be used to build off of what worked and what did not. This process is therefore made up of two stages, that is, collecting information on what has happened and reflecting on or analyzing the information.
Making this information accessible and open for community contributions leaves space for new ideas thus expanding the breadth of projects, activities, interactions, events, etc. This process can occur at any point. For example, it might involve creating an ongoing community journal, bi-monthly meetings or annual reflective events. This may be performed by either a larger collective in the community or by a smaller group of individuals.
A community journal can be used to collect information on what has happened so far in the community.
Here are a couple of pages with prompts for the journal.
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Identify where the journal will be placed. For example, this may be centralized at a local cafe or decentralized, taking place in multiple identified spaces in the neighbourhood where people tend to gather.
Write down as many prompts as possible that will engage community members to reflect on what has happened over a certain amount of time and what they have learned. These prompts might be something like: write down an activity that you attended in the community. How did that activity make you feel? Why? If you could change something, what would it be? Write down an instance where you felt a sense of care in the community. What made you feel that way?
Organize the written prompts by theme or relevance. What information is most important to collect? Is anything missing? Select a set amount of prompts that are best suited for the journal.
Construct the journals. These can be made using old notebooks or pieces of paper that are bound together ( try using staples or binder rings). Write the prompts on every other page to leave room for people to fill in their answers.
Place the journal in an area that is highly visible. If it is placed at a store or local organization, ask the staff to inform local customers of the journal and encourage them to fill it out. Think about other ways to circulate the journal in the neighbourhood. For example, are there events that regularly take place where people gather? Can it be passed along in an informal manner?
The journals should be available for a set amount of time. A couple of weeks minimum is suggested to gain as many entries as possible.
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Organize a time to collect the journals and a time and place to meet with a small collective of key players in the community. This gathering can also be open to the community so that anyone may participate.
Go through the journal entries and write down keywords or sentences on small papers or sticky notes. Post them on a large flat surface (wall, table, etc.).
Group them in clusters by looking for ideas that seem to be related.
Collectively discuss patterns, themes, or interesting points that emerge. Write down or highlight the most important findings.
What are the key takeaways? Do these findings open opportunities for future activities and directions? What are the next steps to implement these changes? Who should be involved?
These examples are two suggested ways of collecting and reflecting on the history of the community, however, it is encouraged to expand on the diversity of tracking activities. The Activity Lab can be used to help guide idea generation.