Research

<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Need help identifying organizations or people who have knowledge of your issue or finding an expert to interview??&nbsp;</b></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><b>Start by making a community map.</b> A community map highlights the people, things, services, organizations, and businesses in a given area with a focus on those who can help support your project.<br> </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><b>Try it! Instructions:</b> Sit down with paper and markers and draw everything out—buildings, streets, landmarks, businesses, libraries, schools, and parks. Simple lines work just fine. Then place the resources you found during your research on your map. Here are some examples (yours will be different, tailored to your issue and community):<br> </p> <ul> <li style="text-align: left;">City Hall, where you can contact the mayor and other elected officials</li> <li style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;A homeless shelter where you can talk to the director about developing a program to help those in need</li> <li style="text-align: left;">A local salvage yard where you can talk to the owner about developing ways to deal with trash that’s hard to recycle (like refrigerators)</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: left;"><b>Need help? If you get stumped, try answering these questions:</b><br> </p> <ul> <li style="text-align: left;">Who has knowledge and background of root causes on issues you’re interested in addressing?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Who can help me access resources that will help with my project?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Who may be good at thinking through solutions to challenges that arise as I plan and implement my project?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Could one of these experts serve as an advisor for my Gold Award project?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Who may be able to offer financial or in-kind support for my project?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Who may be able to help promote the issue and my project?</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: left;"><b>Contact those who can help.</b> Decide who you would like to interview, contact them, and set up a date and time. Prepare. Research and learn all you can to come up with the right questions to ask. You can start with sample questions like these, but be sure to add your own:<br> </p> <ul> <li style="text-align: left;">What are the biggest challenges or problems you have faced or are facing in your work?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">What do you think is the root cause of these challenges?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">What will it take to address them?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">Are there resources available to do that?</li> <li style="text-align: left;">What are the strengths of the community that might be leveraged in the solution?</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: left;"><b>Conduct the interview.</b> Find a quiet place where you can give your full attention, and agree to turn off your cell phones. Be sure to briefly describe your project. Keep questions simple and related to the issue at hand. When you’re done, thank your interviewees for their time and ask if you can share more about your project as it develops.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><b>Results of your research may help inform your answers to the questions in this step. If you need more space, use the Project Notes section found in the menu. Refer back to them often!</b></p>