Public Lab respectfully draws on multiple rich lineages of organizing with a site-specific focus for community self-determination. 

>_We lift up indigenous movements for land defense, poor people's struggles for land reform / tenure, the lived expertise of HIV patients that changed medical research, and Public Lab's own predecessor organization Grassroots Mapping as ancestors in this work. We lift up the methods and ethics of Freirian organizing, action research, participatory planning, and public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) as we develop methods and ethics._ 

**Public Lab's community science projects are place-based and led by local residents**. This is for several reasons, including: 1) people near the site through time have priceless lived experience; 2) governance is geographic by what environmental regulations are in effect and which electoral district you're a constituent in; and 3) place offers a container for multiple standpoints to offer views on the same place. **Stand for what you stand on!** 

This page is a place to collect and organize resources on organizing. Visit the [organizing tag page](https://publiclab.org/tag/organizing) to see the latest community posts about organizing on Public Lab, and get updates on this topic by following:

<a class="btn btn-primary btn-lg" href="https://publiclab.org/subscribe/tag/organizing">Follow Organizing</a>

_Lead image from the [Appalachia Barnraising in 2017](https://publiclab.org/wiki/appalachia-barnraising-2017)_

<div class="alert alert-info" role="ToC">
<b>On this page you can:</b>
<p>
Learn about different <b><a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/organizing#Methods+for+community+organizing">methods</a></b> for community organizing, including tactics for place-based organizing and organizing-related <b><a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/organizing#Activities">activities</a></b>
</p>
Join the conversation
<ul>
<li>Ask a <b><a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/organizing#Questions+from+the+community">question</a></b>, answer a question, or follow future questions on organizing</li>
<li>Post an <b><a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/organizing#Post+an+Issue+Brief">issue brief</a></b> that describes your local place-based concern</li>
</ul>
<p>
Read <b><a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/organizing#Stories+from+community+organizers">stories</a></b> from organizers doing community science
</p>
<p>
Find <b><a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/organizing#Further+reading+and+resources">further reading and resources</a></b> on organizing 
</p>
</div>

<hr style="height:3px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray">

# Methods for community organizing

## Tactics for place-based organizing

We recommend this sequence of steps, even if you skip a few, for attracting and organizing a group of people around place-based research. 

### Tour the area

Move through the area together

+ [How to organize walking tours](https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how-to-organize-walking-tours) from the School of Planning, Design and Construction at Michigan State University 
+ [Benefits of a community bus tour](https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/benefits-of-a-community-bus-tour)
+ [How to make a Green Map cycling tour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb-O-es1bkI) video (and [in Chinese here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVC3nAER0lk))

<img style="border-radius:50px; width: 45%; height: 45%" src="https://publiclab.org/i/44165?s=o" alt="toxic tour Wilmington CA"/>

_Image: [Emmett Institute at UCLA School of Law](https://www.flickr.com/photos/156678922@N05/47595310591), [CC BY NC](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/)_

<br>

### Mental mapping

Invite each person to draw a mental map of landmarks, personal situated memories, infrastructure 

+ [Host a collaborative map drawing workshop](https://publiclab.org/notes/liz/04-05-2017/host-an-event-to-draw-a-picture-of-your-place-as-a-group)

<img style="border-radius:50px; width: 45%; height: 45%" src="https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/004/481/original/IMG_2767.JPG" alt="hand drawn map"/>

<br>

### Historical land use mapping

Start investigating what's happened previously on this site as the best way to focus future study designs

+ [How to find out past and current uses for an area of land](https://publiclab.org/notes/bhamster/02-19-2021/how-to-find-out-past-and-current-uses-for-an-area-of-land)

<img style="border-radius:50px; width: 45%; height: 45%" src="https://publiclab.org/i/44164?s=o" alt="Winnipeg land use historical map"/>

_Image: [Manitoba Historical Maps](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11496488@N07/2235371897), [CC BY](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)_

<br>

### Aerial mapping

Capture a portrait of the landscape with you and the group in it. Bonus, this is really fun!

+ [How to decide on a tool for mapping](https://publiclab.org/notes/stevie/04-26-2019/how-to-decide-on-a-tool-for-mapping)
+ [Host a balloon mapping workshop](https://publiclab.org/notes/liz/03-15-2017/host-a-balloon-mapping-workshop)

<img style="border-radius:50px; width: 40%; height: 40%" src="https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/018/222/original/IMG_20160924_135456-2.jpg" alt="kite aerial photography"/>

<br>

### Annotating aerial maps

Add the points that emerged from touring the site, drawing mental maps, and overlaying the historical maps

+ [How to make your own community annotated map!](https://publiclab.org/notes/julia_e_masters/06-09-2021/how-to-make-your-own-community-annotated-map)
+ [Grassroots Mapping in Butte Goes Analog](https://publiclab.org/notes/mathew/12-13-2011/grassroots-mapping-butte-goes-analog)

<img style="border-radius:50px; width: 45%; height: 45%" src="https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/002/066/original/1379455_10102647600050120_988661020_n_annotated.jpg" alt="annotated map"/>

_Image: by @eustatic_

<br>

<div class="alert alert-success" role="alert">
<b>Now you've got a base upon which to explain how you see the environment to others and invite them to "see alongside" as well.</b> 
</div>

<hr>

This content will likely elicit the next round of questioning, which will provide some direction for your group to:

+  Design future studies. See https://publiclab.org/wiki/study-design.
+ Taking action with your maps: see how you can use your maps for advocacy [LINK to come]


<hr>

## More methods for organizing

+ [How to facilitate a meeting](https://publiclab.org/wiki/facilitation) 
+ [Host a community organizing event ](https://publiclab.org/wiki/host-an-event#1.+Community+organizing+events)
+ [How to host a barnraising](https://publiclab.org/wiki/barnraising-host)
+ How to make a power map: LINK to come

Methods published on Public Lab and tagged with `organizing` will appear on the organizing methods page at https://publiclab.org/methods#organizing


## Activities 

Activities on Public Lab that have been tagged with `activity:organizing` will appear here

[activities:organizing]

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## Join the conversation

### Questions from the community

+ See if other community members are asking questions like yours
+ Ask a question so other community members can offer support
+ Sign up below to be notified when someone asks an organizing-related question

Questions tagged with `question:organizing` will appear here

[questions:organizing]

<hr>

### Post an Issue Brief

Share information about a local environmental health concern and get support from the Public Lab community by writing and posting an Issue Brief. Visit “[Write an Issue Brief](https://publiclab.org/wiki/issue-brief)” to find information on what an issue brief is, see examples, and learn how to write one. 

<hr style="height:3px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray">

## Stories from community organizers

+ [Stories from the Public Lab community](https://publiclab.org/wiki/stories)
+ [Community Science and Monitoring Networks in Central California](https://publiclab.org/notes/amocorro/03-11-2021/community-science-and-monitoring-networks-in-central-california)
+ [Community interviews series](https://publiclab.org/tag/series:community-interviews) with several grassroots community organizers

<hr style="height:3px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray">

## Further reading and resources

+ [Tools for equitable climate resilience--Fostering community-led research and knowledge](http://www.rivernetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rivernetworkcommunityledresearchtoolkit.pdf): a comprehensive toolkit from [River Network](http://rivernetwork.org/) on how to organize and facilitate community-led research. Also includes information about community mapping (pg. 13) and case studies.   
+ [Mapping for Community Organizing](https://hc-v6-static.s3.amazonaws.com/media/resources/tmp/Community_Organizing.pdf): From the [Advancement Project](http://www.advancementprojectca.orgh/), this guide explains how maps can be used in community organizing, especially when planning a campaign.