4.1 Community Asset Mapping–Mapping your community
In the last module, we introduced the concept of asset mapping as a process of identifying and documenting a community’s assets to create a physical or digital map that represents the community’s resources. The process of map creation is a highly participatory activity that involves direct involvement, collaboration, and consensus building with your community. If you haven’t reviewed module 3, we recommend that you do so before proceeding…
This module will task you with engaging with your community in order to create a community asset map. The following examples illustrate the types of asset maps you can create:
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Find A Market: Find A Market – New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association
This interactive map was created by the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association in order to provide community members with an easy-to-tool for locating fresh, healthy, culturally-appropriate food. The map includes location, schedule, and payment information. -
Austin Community Asset Map: Austin Community Asset Map - Google My Maps
This customized Google Map provides the Austin community with a view of local resources with free services available for public use including housing, healthcare, food distribution, transportation, parks, and libraries. -
Lancaster County Hunger Mapping: Lancaster County Hunger Mapping - Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
This research study provides insight into the methodology and steps involved in mapping food insecurity in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The interactive map that resulted from this community research and engagement initiative is a multi-layered map that provides a variety of information rich toggles to enable the viewer to examine the collected data in a highly accessible, visual form. -
ParkVote:
Several years ago, we at The Farmer’s Truck undertook the creation of our own mapping tool called ParkVote. We created ParkVote to help mobile market operators determine the optimal location for their truck by tapping into the wishes of their community. The concept: Mobile market operators can use ParkVote at the start of a season or to identify a new area to serve. Operators can use the tool to create campaigns and get customer votes on where they’d like your market to set up. ParkVote hasn’t yet been launched to the world, but we’d love to get your feedback and find out if you think you would use this tool.