1. What is the purpose of your work—both the group project and individual products? What
Is the format of the group project? What individual products does this project consist of,
and in what forms (e.g., maps, podcasts, videos, reports, etc.)?
The purpose of our group project is to spread awareness while also creating resources for Cahokia residents who are struggling with water equity issues. My individual role in the project has developed more over time. Last semester I created a page on our website collaborating with different resources, grassroots organizations, and non-profit organizations. The tab on the website gives insight into what resources are available to the residents, what people can do to support the organizations, and how they can benefit from the resources. Our group project consists of maps, reports, and pictures that help summarize the work we have been doing with our project about Cahokia Heights Residents. Over time, I would like to include more things in my individual portion of the project, following the work that I have already done. I would like to create a map pinning each grassroots organization. Giving an email, location, number of contact, and also including a small description of the organization so viewers can see what they do and how it can benefit them or others in the community they might know.
2. Who is this project made for? Describe the relevant stakeholders and what they might
need to best understand and/or use the different elements of this project.
This project is designed for residents of Cahokia Heights, employees of Heartland, our group, and other fellow CODES students, as well as students who are working on projects similar to ours. Our target audience is students, educators, and community residents. Our relevant stakeholders are Heartland’s. In order to understand our project, they will need clear and concise communication between our group and them. Also, a list of potential next steps will be provided, allowing us to gather feedback from our stakeholders and identify next steps to address any necessary changes or additions, ensuring the project continues smoothly.
3. Why is it important for your work to be shared? What value does it bring to the
communities/stakeholders it serves?
There are many reasons as to why our work needs to be shared. Our project is raising awareness, showing different sides to the story of the residents of Cahokia Heights. It gives a voice to residents who feel like they’re underrepresented or ignored. Sharing our work can bring attention to others and raise more awareness. The value it brings to the stakeholders is sharing. It is educational. Our stakeholders can use our project and information to educate others, spread awareness, and help make small changes.
4. What ethical considerations are important to think about when planning to disseminate
your work? How will you ensure these ethical considerations are integrated into the
dissemination process?
Making sure all information in our work is accurate and having evidence to back up what we said. Having different sources to support what we research and include in our work. Having respect and representation since our story is real for many residents and the things they have endured that have affected them financially, mentally, emotionally, and physically, making sure we represent their story well while also respecting them and having empathy and inclusivity. Ensuring privacy and consent earlier in our project, we conducted interviews in order to do the interviews and include those interviews. We had to ask for consent and maintain privacy throughout the beginning part of our work, because this isn’t just a project, it’s someone’s real life.
5. What working practices will you adopt to ensure that your project is ready for distribution
by this time?
Having better communication within our group. Making sure everyone understands their part and can pull their weight, when given time in class, completing as much as possible, or talking to each other about what needs to be completed, so we can have an action plan. Being responsible on my end and holding myself accountable, making sure I’m doing my part and sticking to what needs to be done. Being a respectful and honest team member, respecting everyone’s opinion and input about the project, while giving respectful and honest feedback if anything needs to change or be different.
Then, please answer the following questions in a bullet point list. Please highlight who completed which sections:
6. What are the specific avenues of distribution that will make it so your project reaches
relevant stakeholders and communities (e.g., social media, specific emails, publication,
community partner advertising, etc.)? (Tip: If you aren’t sure where you should share it,
Who might be a good person to ask, and/or where might be a good place to start?)
Social media, our eportfolio, and emails. Additionally, they can utilize any resources that our community partners have to offer, and also advertise on their websites and social media, allowing for wider distribution and potentially using CODES social media platform to distribute our project and gather information.
7. For each avenue of distribution, how and when will you share the group and individual
contributions? (E.g., I will share my podcast to Spotify by researching how to upload a
podcast to Spotify, and I will send an email to Ms. Jones and post to XYZ website to
advertise it. I will actually upload the podcast by Sunday, April 26th and send the
advertising email by Tuesday, April 28th
How and when is something we’re still communicating about as a group, hopefully, when would be in the second half of the semester. For my individual contribution, I will have it ready to share in April. Since our group has decided on a scrollytelling , we have to agree on a set of data that will be ready, hopefully in April.