local community public space
Spatial Analytical Tool All public spaces are programmed and inscribed with intended meaning and use for some types of users while intentionally or unintentionally excluding others. To help describe how environments convey/produce injustice and inequality for the general community and any marginalised groups, take a reflective walk around your chosen space and use the following tool to help evaluate and reflect on the observed space. While walking around, think about how the public community space could be enhanced through community development approaches. What is the space being observed? Spatial Claims: The Right To Be 1.Who uses the place, who does not, and why? 2.What is the purpose of the space, and how is the space used? 3.What is unique about the history and culture of the area? Values: What is valued here? What is not valued here? What feelings, attitudes, beliefs, norms or laws does this space evoke for you? What tells you this? (Write, Take a picture* see ethical process before hand, Draw) Physical form/features: Communication mediums used: Actual users observed: Users: What users is the space designed for? What assumptions have been made about the type of user? Is one group favoured over another? Who is over looked or designed out of the environment? What tells you this? (Write, Take a picture, Draw) · Physical form/features: · Communication mediums used: · Actual users observed: Activities: What are they key activities observed? Are there any activities discouraged? Are there any activities not accessible (physical access, affordability, availability) for diverse groups? Are there any evidence of community development activities (free yoga, community art)? Is there support for people’s expression of talents and abilities? What tells you this? (Write, Take a picture, Draw) · Physical form/features: · Communication mediums used: · Actual users observed: Spatial Power: The Right to Thrive and Express 1. What qualities would you use to describe the place? 2. How are people able to practice, contribute and create here? 3. What messages and behaviours does the space suggest? 4. What prevents anyone from full participation in personal and public life? Rules - What rules operate in this space to reinforce intended activities and users? What tells you this? (Write, Take a picture, Draw) · visual cues (signage ) · social understanding – norms · physical (security cameras , fences, gates) Power: Can you see in the built form and landscape any power over (controls) at play - these might be overt (obvious) covert (hidden) or tacit (unwritten law)? Who does it disempower? Is there a specific group it seeks to control access to and use of? What tells you this? (Write, Take a picture, Draw) · Physical form: · Communication Mediums: · Actual users: Spatial Links: The Right to Access and Connect Understanding Fracture: 1. What barriers exist in the physical environment? 2. What breaks and obstacle can be found in the structure? 3. What invisible, historical, social barrier divide people? 4. What historic memory exists in the place and the people here? Physical Environment. What are key features influencing access and use to the space. Resources: What resources are needed to use this space? Mobility and Transport 1. Consider transport /travel to the space · What are the constraint/opportunities regarding getting to the space? · What are the transport options of getting there - (example is it reliant on motor vehicle or is there accessible public transport, is there walking options), · Is public transport, accessible, affordable, and available? 2. Consider the path of travel from parking bays and public transport nodes to the space. •Note any constraints that may be encounter and the effect of this on getting access to the space 3. Thirdly consider movement, interaction and use patterns in space •What constraints on movement and participation could be encountered by different people due to the Layout? •Are there spaces that may need to be avoided because of the space/environment doesn’t accommodate the person being in and moving in spaces? What aspects of the space contribute positively to users’ experience of this space? What physical attributes of the site impact negatively on users’ experience of this space? What tells you this? (Write, Take a picture, Draw) Ecology of the Place: Sense of Place 1. What connects this places to other places? 2. Does it feel like a Place? or Just a Space – and if so for whom? 3. What opportunities for natural and social interaction exist in place? Notes from research on the Space Much can also be learnt from researching the space – its history, people- demography, and visions and aims. Reflection on how would you use community development process /approach to help enhance the community space. Source: Spatial Assessment Guide: (ds4s1 – Bailey t al. 2012). Source: Stafford, L. 2015 – compiled with adapted material from Hughes/Elliot Burns – Unit CNN603 (based on Heath, 1989 – VAST heuristic Model). SWB212 - Project 2 – Case Study Report Exploring spatial (in) justice in a chosen community and the application of a suitable community development approach. http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/131014154319-09-banksy-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg The Activity: To produce a 2000-2500-word case study report that demonstrates your understanding of spatial justice and community development processes through exploring a specific community space. This understanding is demonstrated by undertaking an observational analysis of a selected public space as well as reviewing information about your selected community space. You will also discuss community development process strategies (at local and structural levels) that could be implemented to help address identified issues and help to enhance justice, wellbeing and progress social change. Your analysis and proposed strategies are to be supported by Ife’s Alternative Community Development Framework - theories, principles and process discussed in the unit, as well as additional readings and other research. Total word count: 2000-2500 words Submission Assessment 2: Total weighting 60% You are required to: 1. Submit your case study report in word or pdf format via Turnitin on blackboard by 11.59 pm on Friday the 23rd October 2020. Assessment Criteria Case Study Report: Quality of introduction and description of community and community space (20%) Quality of the observational analysis of spatial (in) justice (30%) Quality of community development recommendation (30%) Quality of writing (10%) Quality of research and referencing (10%) Process - What You Are Required To Do Pick a local community public space you can physically visit. The public space can be one of the following: · A main commercial street in a suburb - like Kelvin Grove Urban Village, West End; James street - New Farm, Manley · A mall – Queen Street Mall, Fortitude Valley · Public Park - Parklands – Roma Street Parklands, · Public transport station/hub – Roma street, or local train station Do observation of your chosen public space You are to visit, observe and walk around the space as a way to look deeper at inequality and injustice and to see how justice, wellbeing and progress social change could be enhanced through community development. Please note this is observation only, do not interview people. The aim is to identify how social economic inequality and injustice may be expressed/reinforced spatially using the observational tool. The tool will help you to identify what and who are valued/included, and who are not, what activities are permitted and not permitted, any forms of (in)equality and (in) justice to access and use the space and how this is communicated/expressed (physical/built structure, aesthetics /appearance, signs/surveillance etc). You will use theories and the spatial justice framework principles to help make sense /explain your observation. Develop a Community Profile: Once you have done your observation, do a search on demographic information and research on the local community of the public space to help develop a broader awareness. This includes census and other social-economic data and local government information on your community. From this search, you want to be able to identify: -Location – Where is it - geography information -History of the community -Community demographics (e.g. who lives here, the social economical index for the area) -Challenges/Threats for the community (e.g. gentrification, Lack of social resources, unemployment/underemployment, housing stress). Identifying strategies to address injustice - the role of community development process Next reflect on what you have found from observations and research, and consider ways you could apply an alternative community-based approach, principles, processes to help improve justice, wellbeing and progress social change. From your reflection, you will write a community development approach you would adopt as a community development worker to work with the community. This approach should outline the theoretical framework underpinning what you would use. Your approach should outline not just what strategy/processes you would use (engagement activities to identify needs, vision as well as local and strategic level actions) but also why they are a suitable and inclusive. This should be justified/supported by literature. From doing this you will be able to produce your Case Study Report PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF REPORT Headings: Introduction (500 words) What is the purpose of the report? · To explore spatial justice/injustice in community spaces · To identify how a community development approach may help to enhance justice, wellbeing (place attachment community connectedness) and social change. Introduce the public space and the community in which it is located? · Description of public space observed (e.g. this may include its main purpose, and can include a map of the space). · Provide location and historical context of the community it is situated (e.g. suburb, town, or city) · Community demographics (who lives here, the social economical index for the area) · Challenges for the community identified from the local government/literature/research (e.g. gentrification, lack of social resources, unemployment/underemployment, housing stress) A brief outline of the structure of the report · What the report includes Heading: Spatial Expressions of Injustice in Community (approx. 1000 words) Method: Describe your observational approach you undertook - (when you undertook the observation and where) and framework underpinning your observations – spatial justice framework by Bailey, Lobenstine and Nagel (2012) Findings: Describe your key findings and analysis from your observations. That is what you found and your analysis/explanation of these findings. This includes: describing and critically analysing any inequality and injustice you observed/found e.g. who are valued/included and who are not (marginalised groups – age, people with disability, transgender community, people experiencing homelessness or working poor, particular cultures), and how these are communicated/expressed (physical structures, aesthetics/appearance, signs/surveillance), and the implications/effects for these groups (excluded from participating in a particular area of activity, difficulties being able to hang out and socialise). Ensure you use theory/concepts/threats from the unit/assignment 1 as well as readings and research to help make sense and explain your observations. Your key findings may be organised under the spatial justice principles: · Right to Spatial Claims · Right to Thrive and Express