to understand shared challenges and opportunities in the neighborhood. For instance, neighbors engaged in asset mapping and story mapping about general life in the neighborhood, as well as transportation-specific activities including a “dot-mocracy” activity in which they could vote for preferred mobility solutions from a transportation toolkit derived from pre-vetted, regionally available mobility options, and a transportation survey that allowed them to share their personal transportation experiences in light of the potential mobility investments. Figure 3. Valverde Movement Fest: A celebration of community – food, culture, knowledge, and power
3.1 COMMUNITY ASSET MAPPING Through a participatory mapping exercise, the research team asked neighbors to identify areas in and around their neighborhood that they loved and areas where they wanted improvements or felt unsafe. When residents had identified these places and marked them with green and red dots, respectively, they were asked to share why they chose the places they did. Figure 3. Participatory Asset Mapping Activity
Roughly 25 residents participated, offering a wide range of responses. Many expressed positive feelings for their parks and green space, as well as a much-loved Vietnamese Bakery, neighborhood schools, and 10
