Grounding History as a Community Value
ThatCamp NCPH 2013
Ann Martin
If we believe that history/heritage is a valuable community asset, why do we spend so little time in the community (outside of talking to the heritage-minded crowd or telling them what we know)? How can we work collaboratively within the community? I’m talking real community engagement here, not outreach or developing audiences. Do we, as historians, really know how to create enduring relationships with other players within our communities that aren’t based on requirements for funding, getting good press or furthering our own strategic goals?
I’m interested in figuring out what it takes to roll up our sleeves and do the work to find a “coalition of the willing” – others that see value in heritage and whose values we can support – and work together as a true alliance over the long haul to ground the appreciation of heritage as a community value.
If you’d like to talk strategy, that’s great. Perhaps you’d like to create some tools (questionnaires, templates, discussion agendas, lists of categories of people to talk to that you can customize for yourself…or??). Maybe you’ve got some suggestions on how to harness digital technology in new and creative ways. Are you a tactician or a strategist?
I’m open to any and all suggestions that move the conversation away from “how do we reach them with what we know” to “what are community needs that the heritage community can help with and/or link to.”
Maybe there’s a ThatCamp NCPH 2013 coalition of the willing….
Excellent topic! I am most interested in participating in this discussion, being currently engaged in information gathering sessions to flesh out historic record on the E TN marble industry. Public participation is a sacred trust that I want to make sure we are fully honoring and then investing that energy (and more) back into community.
Thanks, Susan. Just did a quick Google look of E TN marble industry and would love to hear how the session at the Ijams Nature Centre went.
I think this is an important topic and something I have some experience in! I’m wondering if you can clarify who or what you mean by ‘community’ (sorry I know that’s a big can of worms), if even just to clarify what how the ‘coalition of the willing’ is different from the ‘heritage-minded crowd’ or others that do have interests? (Or maybe the question is more about the idea of a community value….) From my perspective civic engagement work is very much an “in” and “with” orientation and that requires lots of give and take in terms of expertise, direction and idea generation, implementation, etc. It sounds like this is similar to avoiding the tell them what we know orientation that you want to avoid and I couldn’t agree more!
I’ve done workshops around using theatre improv to develop skills for working in community; maybe that’s of interest in terms of a ‘how to’? Happy to share that!
Wow — didn’t think I’d be pushed to the wall this soon after posting. When I think of community, I’m thinking of the groups that make up where we live and work. So, maybe we can link with sustainable development folks in the city planning department. Maybe it’s the “back to the land” folks that live out in the “back 40” region of my rural community. Or perhaps it’s the organic gardeners. Or the high-school drama class. Or the local art gallery that only deals in “Elvis on black velvet” paintings or the local birdwatching club. I think the list is quite diverse.
I’m trying to keep an open mind and not be prescriptive in the hope of “widening our circle of friends and acquaintances” in a meaningful manner.
Your theatre improv idea sounds wonderful (my sister-in-law is a theatre manager…so I have an entre into this community, too!)
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been working on community-based projects for several years and would appreciate the opportunity to talk about how others are doing this work.