written by Vishakha Negi
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| Members of the audience were prompted to answer a few questions about their community, the first of which was why they cared about it. |
Why do we care about our community?
The answer may seem obvious. We live there. Some of us work there. It's where we were raised and want to raise our children. At the SeeClickFix workshop co-hosted with NHS on June 23rd, however, even more answers materialized. People cared about the impact their community could have on the larger environment, the availability of essentials like groceries and jobs, and the implications it could have for future generations. These answers were a result of an activity during the workshop, which prompted a conversation about what it means to improve communities, as well as how one could go about improving them. As the name of the workshop suggests, the solution that was discussed was an app called SeeClickFix.
The answer may seem obvious. We live there. Some of us work there. It's where we were raised and want to raise our children. At the SeeClickFix workshop co-hosted with NHS on June 23rd, however, even more answers materialized. People cared about the impact their community could have on the larger environment, the availability of essentials like groceries and jobs, and the implications it could have for future generations. These answers were a result of an activity during the workshop, which prompted a conversation about what it means to improve communities, as well as how one could go about improving them. As the name of the workshop suggests, the solution that was discussed was an app called SeeClickFix.
SeeClickFix members Nadine Herring, Andrew Johnston and
Amanda Parr ran through the basics of the app. Users can share images with comments
about issues in their community not only with other community members, but also
the relevant authorities. As a result of this process, the issue could be
quickly fixed. As an audience member aptly pointed out during the workshop,
some individuals may not have smartphone access. Luckily, members of SeeClickFix
assured the audience that libraries throughout New Haven would be trained to
enter the relevant issues through SeeClickFix’s online platform, and so
individuals without smartphones could just share their concerns at a local
library. A picture would not be necessary at all – just the issue and the
location. SeeClickFix is a viable platform for all individuals and a
powerful tool for transforming how we see our communities and take charge of
them.
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| The end result of a brainstorming session on why we care about our communities and what aspects of it could be improved. Members of See Click Fix finally sorted these responses into relevant categories like Environment, Investment, Local Pride and Education. |
NHS plans to continue with the workshops, especially because
this one was so well-received by both participants and facilitators alike.
Here is an excerpt from a blog post, which SeeClickFix wrote about the workshop:
Here is an excerpt from a blog post, which SeeClickFix wrote about the workshop:
“At SeeClickFix, we are grateful for
the privilege to work alongside Neighborhood Housing Services and the actively
engaged residents and governments dedicated to taking pragmatic steps towards
improving their towns and cities. We are dedicated to providing a platform
where all voices are given a chance to be heard, where respect is shared and
communicated, and where education inspires engagement, awareness leads to
involvement, and initiative generates change.”
We are truly lucky to have
these opportunities to partner with SeeClickFix. By working together, we are
able to better address the issues that affect quality of life in the community.
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