Participatory Mapping

What is Participatory Mapping?

Our participatory mapping initiative involves actively engaging community members in mapping their surroundings and collecting data to address and highlight local issues. This approach blends observation with community input and creative expression to identify and tackle problems effectively.

Also known as Social Equity Mapping (SEM), this grassroots approach empowers residents to become researchers and advocates in their own neighborhoods. Rather than waiting for outside experts to study our communities, we put the tools of investigation and storytelling directly into the hands of those who know these places best.

The Impact of Participatory Mapping

For Communities:

Transforms residents from passive observers to active researchers and advocates
Creates lasting improvements to neighborhood safety, beauty, and functionality
Builds collective knowledge about local assets and challenges

For Individuals:

Develops skills in research, creative expression, and civic engagement
Provides platforms for sharing personal stories and experiences
Creates connections between neighbors around shared concerns

Our Creative Approach

By incorporating visual and artistic methods such as murals, art installations, and other forms of public art, we aim to bring community concerns to the forefront, foster dialogue and drive meaningful change. This initiative not only enhances our understanding of local needs but also empower individuals to contribute to solutions through collaborative and creative means.

Past Projects

Over the years, our participatory mapping work has taken many forms. While we continue to build on this foundation, here are some projects from our earlier work:

In May 2017, DACU social equity mappers and timebank members collaborated to create a street mural at the intersection of Tornillo Street and Picacho Avenue in the Mesquite District of Las Cruces. The mural, designed by artist Saba, helps slow traffic through the area, making it a safer place to walk, bike, and drive.

This project demonstrated how participatory mapping combines identifying community issues (traffic safety) with creative intervention (the mural) to create both immediate improvements and lasting visual representation of community priorities.

Community Story Maps: We developed digital story maps for projects in Community of Hope and Chaparral as part of our Social Equity Mapping initiative. These interactive maps served as virtual ways of sharing community work and stories, making local knowledge and experiences accessible to broader audiences.

Our Projects

Love Grows Here

Get Involved

We are currently working on the “Love Grows Here” installation and would love for you to be part of this meaningful project. We are looking for places to bring our beadwork events; classroom, clubs, community centers, community hubs. This project is about connecting allies, chosen families and the LGBTGQIA+ community because together we stand stronger.

If you have a space where we could host a beadwork session, or if you are interested in developing your own participatory mapping project or would like to donate to support our participatory mapping initiative overall, we would love to hear from you.