A GUIDE TO MAPPING AND MOBILIZING THE ASSOCIATIONS IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS

10
Conducting and Inventory of Associations
CHAPTER TWO
CONDUCTING AN INVENTORY OF ASSOCIATIONS
This chapter outlines the basic steps necessary to complete a field mapping of
neighborhood associations and to organize this information for mobilization.
Sponsors of this work should adapt these methods to meet their specific project
goals and objectives.
The goal of the inventory phase of the mapping is to identify local associations and,
when possible, gather from identified associations the name and phone number of a
contact person, meeting place, and other pertinent information. This phase also
involves the organization of the information collected into usable forms.
Identify your Project Focus Area
The first step of the inventory process is to define the geographic boundaries of
your project. Some neighborhoods are well-defined by specific streets. People
living in the community, and those outside of it, clearly understand what is meant
when someone refers to the community by name. The boundaries of other
neighborhoods are not so clearly defined or understood, and may have been
disagreed about by some people. In this case, postal zip code or census tract data
might be used to establish project boundaries.
The purpose of identifying your project focus area is not to insist on a formal or
binding definition of the boundaries of your neighborhood, but to simply describe
the area that you’re considering for exploration. Using a detailed street map, draw
a line around the area that you will consider your project focus area for the purpose
of the association mapping project. To obtain a very detailed map, you may be able
to get one from your city planning department.
If the project requires demographic information, you can contact sources such as
your city planning department, chamber of commerce, a local university, or
neighboring organizations (e.g., business association or social service agency). The
internet provides US Census data (see www.uscensus.gov) and citywide resource
networks that can provide area maps and demographic data.
Recruit Resident Field Surveyors to Collect Information
Before you begin the inventory, your organization will need to identify and engage
field surveyors. The number of field surveyors will be determined by the size of the
focus area. Ideally, field surveyors should be local residents. Local people not only
possess unique knowledge of their neighborhood, but they can also develop new
marketable survey research skills. Involving local residents as field surveyors can
also promote relationships with local associations that will be helpful in the
A Community Building Workbook © 1999 Kretzmann & McKnight