Telling Our Stories: Creating Green Communities Toolkit
Analysis Worksheet
Now that you’ve collected community stories, it’s time to analyze them and think about how to build on the stories to develop “Go Green” community projects. Follow these steps to progress from stories to action. Compile all the documents and notes from your story collecting activities: Depending on what activities you did, these may include: • EFP Lists completed by residents; • Story Collecting Forms completed by library staff; • Notes you took on the back of the EFP Lists and when using the Visual Collages and the Energy Efficient Home Diagram; • Notes from the group story collecting activities; • Photographs taken during story collecting since this will help you remember or visualize some aspects of the stories; If you have EFP Lists, use the EFP Tally Sheet to consolidate all responses into one document. Review the EFP Tally Sheet and all the documents you compiled in step one to identify patterns. Then fill out the boxes in the Story Boxes Sheet. This will help you cull out common themes, green community resources, and concerns raised by residents that you can consider in the next step. Translate what you’ve learned from your analysis into action projects and activities. Once you identify a popular theme or a common barrier, consider which of your community resources might be mobilized to address it through a project or activity that you initiate. For example, let’s say that 12 out of 25 participants who completed the EFP List indicated that they want to capture or divert rain water, but need more technical information or expertise to do this. Your notes also indicate that 3 people who participated in your Story Circle activity have repurposed inexpensive, plastic trash cans into rain barrels, and have innovatively modified their downspouts to redirect storm water into rain gardens. You can use your analysis to articulate the need for a demonstration project that encourages dialogue and collaboration between these two groups. You may also wish to use the themes, resources, and concerns that you identify as a starting point for convening community leaders interested in green issues to put together a longer-term plan for collaborating around green community issues.
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ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY PRACTICES TALLY SHEET Directions: Count and record the total number of responses to each activity as indicated by participants. Based upon the final tallies, give each activity an approximate ranking from most done to least. Activities Done by Participants
A lot Sometimes
Never RANKING
Riding Public Transit Recycling (at home, in the neighborhood, at work, across the city) Reusing/Re-purposing (practical, artistic, both) Exchanging or Sharing Used Items with Friends/Family/Neighbors Preserving Historic Buildings/Places (from restoring the windows on an historic home to spear-heading preservation of a community landmark) Using Energy-efficient Light Bulbs Walking as Transit Outdoor Recreation/Relaxation (porch, yard, park, etc.) Turning off Lights, Appliances, TV Using Drapes/Curtains to Control Temperature Gardening: community, school, private Beautifying the community (picking up trash, painting, planting medians, etc.) Hanging Clothes to Dry Opening Windows (instead of using AC) Biking as Transit Car Pooling Using Energy Efficient Appliances, Devices Repairing Instead of Replacing Broken items Using Manual instead of Power Tools Capturing or Diverting Rain Water Retrofitting Homes/Buildings (insulation, new efficient windows, sealing leaks, etc.) Green Roofs Raising Chickens Building Green Using Renewable Energy (wind, solar) Buying Local Buying Organic Bringing Your Own Shopping Bag Restoring Native Habitats Conserving water (quick showers, fewer flushes, etc) Living close to open/natural space Composting Eating Vegetarian
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STORY BOXES SHEET
Directions: Review your EFP Lists, Story Collecting Forms, and notes. Note the most popular, innovative, or unusual activities mentioned, as well as those used in the past by elders. Also, note the most often cited reasons given as barriers to engaging in green practices. List the top five activities that participants do. Example: Gardening
What were some of the reasons that participants gave for choosing these activities? Example: Enjoy the outdoors and grow vegetables
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List the top five activities that participants don’t do. Example: Riding public transportation
What were some of the reasons that participants gave for NOT doing these activities? Example: They live too far from bus and train routes
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List five innovative practices that participants do or have seen others do. Example: Moms’ club for trading toys and clothes
List five activities used in the past by elders. Example: Hanging clothes to dry
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