Reflection #1
Throughout my time in CODES, I have seen my project evolve into many different forms. Originally, we planned on basing our research around youth education, but that quickly changed because of a lack of passion and interest. We then decided to focus on research over the water crisis in Cahokia and here we are three semesters later. The project being about Cahokia sat with me a lot better because I felt like it meant more than youth education. I also didn’t know much about Cahokia at the time even though I am from Saint Louis and it’s only about half an hour away. It felt like I was doing something new and unique from other projects while also learning information that I would value more in comparison to youth education.
Currently there is a website with information that people of Cahokia can use as a resource for living in the area. On the website we plan to have a historical timeline of Cahokia, information on landlord-tenant rights and relationships in Cahokia, a map of healthy food options, etc.
I am responsible for the landlord-tenant section of the website. I have information on the rights of tenants in Cahokia and have conducted a survey about landlord-tenant relationships in the area with published responses on the website. I plan on attempting to get more responses to that survey to get more information to put on the website.
I want to revise my work by having community members give feedback on what I have so far. Community members are the best way to make sure that my information is accurate and of good faith towards the community.
It is difficult to locate secondary sources for my specific project because Cahokia is a forgotten and looked over town. The water equity issues have been going on there for a long time, but it has never seemed to be a pressing issue to the government or the media really. There are articles here and there about it, but it is not nearly as notorious or cared about as much as the water issues in Flint, Michigan for example.
This website is for the people of Cahokia whether they have just moved in or have been in the area for a long time. I want to make sure that the information I put is useful to Cahokia residents and easily accessible. During the revision stages I will every now and then put myself into their shoes and reflect on what information would be the most important to me and what I wouldn’t care too much for.