How was it implemented? Being a documenter of the Future Back-
write down the current state of the China
Step 5. The facilitators encouraged the
wards workshop, I observed and recorded
and Chinatown Neighborhoods on yellow
participants to build two paths, which
the process of the workshop. From my ob-
post-its
.
could connect the possible heaven and
servation, I noticed that there was no time
hell future scenarios to the a point just be-
constraint during the workshop. Also, the
Step 2. The facilitators guided the par-
fore the current state. Each event or idea
facilitators addressed some ground rules
ticipants to think backwards step-by-step
was shared on one green post-it
to the participants in advance, which in-
from the current state to the past of Chi-
step of the paths.
cluded:
natown and Chinatown North Neighborhoods. The participants need to record
•
No right or wrong answer.
•
No silence in the discussion.
•
Be as creative, imaginary and
them on green post-its ex-
treme as possible about the future. •
. The partici-
as one
Step 6. The participants were empowered with the pink post-its
, which represent
pants were not allowed to remove or re-
the act of god - unexpected events. They
write the post-its they put down in the first
were allowed to fill in the gap if there was
place.
any in the path, which connects the future scenario and the current state.
One idea or turning point per post-it. Step 3 & 4. The participants were given
Below is the process of how this research
the tasks to imagine about the scenarios
Step 7. After the over an hour-long discus-
tool was implemented in the Local Re-
of the “heaven state,” along with the “hell
sion, each group accomplished their own
sources team meeting at Asian Arts Initia-
state” of the community. They were told to
post-its map which visually showed their
tive:
be creative and imaginary about the im-
group perspectives on different states of
possibly good future and the worst condi-
the community. Each group were assigned
Step 1. The facilitators divided the twenty
tion of the community. The heaven states
to present and share their story to the
participants to four groups and explained
were captured on the blue post-its
,
large group based on those visual post-its.
the ground rules. Then, they gave the
while the hell state was documented on
participants the first task to discuss and
the orange post-its
.
Reflection: Transience of the Chinatown and Chinatown North Neighborhoods The workshop stimulated rich conversa-
the neighborhood is that community mem-
tions in the four small groups, and helped
bers started to raise a sense of ownership
people to envision the possible future sce-
and belongingness in the community, as
narios of the Chinatown and Chinatown
well as to have reasons to rally around the
North Neighborhoods. From the observa-
community building.
tion, collectively few participants clearly acknowledged the past of the community.
The participants’ and facilitator’s thoughts
While in this exercise, the value of sharing
about the future, backwards workshop will
common understandings of the history of
be shared on the following page.