Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 31 Guidelines for Implementation On the surface, photovoice would seem as simple a method as giving people cameras and sending them out to take pictures Of course that is not the case To succeed, it is vitally important that the broader goals of the project are clearly defined and the segment of the community is identified whose voices need to be heard Photovoice: Two Critical Considerations Before participants receive cameras, the project leaders should address the following matters to ensure the success of photovoice: a clear definition of the broad goals of the project and involvement by community members. The steps for executing a photovoice project are quite similar to the steps used for asset mapping, certainly with respect to organizing and recruitment Here are some guidelines for implementing photovoice • Find a champion. An individual or group within the community or associated with the project must champion the process and secure the initial resources • Identify community members The people who can best tell the story of the needs and issues of the neighborhood should be identified and engaged • Define the parameters. Photovoice participants must be aware of the expectations for the project • Train and identify. Participants should be oriented to the best and safest ways to approach situations common to photographing in public places They should each be given an official identification (indicating they are part of the photovoice project) that they can display if questioned • Allow time for reflection. Capturing the images is only one element of this process Participants need to be given time and encouraged to reflect and share those reflections—most often in a written or videotaped format • Share and celebrate the findings. One of the more challenging aspects of this powerful method is the organization and interpretation of the photos and the discussion That way, the photos can translate into a specific list of findings or recommendations The pictures and the words of reflection should be exhibited within the community Others, including decision-makers, should call attention to them The Five W’s of Photovoice Plus the How The standard Who? What? When? Where? and Why? questions can be useful for orienting photovoice participants. You could suggest that photos include: • Who lives, works, and plays in the neighborhood or park? • What types of activities or inactivity do these people pursue in the neighborhood or park? • When are most people present and using neighborhood places and spaces? • Where in the park area—or Where in the community—do many people go frequently? • Why do people go certain places and undertake certain activities? However, a major challenge for photovoice participants and most certainly for the organizers or champions of this effort is the How?—to interpret the findings of these photos and reflections in such a way that the findings: • Identify some key themes or issues arising from the neighborhood • Present a concise but compelling set of findings—most particularly for decision-makers and potential partners • Develop a list of recommendations on the basis of the findings
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