POLICIES TO IMPROVE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT:A PHOTOVOICE CASE STUDYYanique Redwood, PhD, MPH303 Community Coalition/The Dirty Truth Campaign

Activate America: Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities

February 18, 2010

Outline

Photovoice OverviewThe Dirty Truth CampaignPolicy HighlightsAdvocacy

Photovoice

“Photovoice blends a grassroots approach to

photography and social action. It providescameras not to health specialists, policymakers, or professionals, but to people

withleast access to those who make decisionsaffecting their lives.” (Wang, 2005)

Photovoice: Goals

To enable people to record and reflect their community's strengths and concerns

To promote critical dialogue and knowledge about personal and community issues through large and small group discussions of photographs

To reach policy makers

Photovoice: Goal # 1

To enable people to record and reflect

Photovoice: Goal # 2

To promote critical dialogue Contextualize using SHOWeD freewrites

What do you See here? What is really Happening here? How does this relate to Our lives? Why does this problem or strength exist? What can we Do about it?

Photovoice: Goal # 3

To reach policymakers

Reaching Policymakers

Neighborhood Planning Unit V (NPU-V)

94% AFRICAN AMERICAN

DISPROPORTIONATE HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES

Pictures Shape the Agenda

Trash Construction

Debris Vacant

Properties Displacement

Trash Lot

Walk of Shame

Building Up or Tearing Down?

Nice House for Bad Use

What’s the Buzz?

The Dirty Truth Campaign

To improve the quality of life of NPU-Vresidents by eradicating the presence and effects of the health and safety challenges that are embedded in the built environment

The Dirty Truth Campaign

To establish community based control ofvacant and/or blighted properties to beredeveloped into affordable housingopportunities for current and displacedresidents of NPU-V

The Dirty Truth Campaign

To work with and on behalf of the mostvulnerable and marginalized in our

communityto create a platform for truth-telling thatuncovers and transforms the policies andsystems that undermine their ability toachieve a good quality of life

WHERE WE WORK• Properties that

are within 500 feet of schools, parks, and recreation centers.

• The map to the right illustrates the targets of our code enforcement strategy.

How Big is the Problem?

In 2007, ~20 residents participated in a counting project using a coding scheme and maps

Key finding: 1296 vacant or unoccupied properties in NPU-V, representing 43% of all properties (underestimate)

The number is likely bigger given the recent foreclosure crisis

Policy Highlights

NVPC Recommendations Cease the sale of tax liens to third party Full utilization of the Atlanta/Fulton County Land

Bank Build the capacity of local community-based

development corporations Enact inclusionary zoning laws Create a land trust to ensure lasting affordability

Other Recommendations Hire residents locally to rehab vacant properties

Mobilization

NDAG Counting Project Meetings with CBOs/WE CARE Pledges Calling Campaign Earth Day Actions Parks Middle School Photovoice Project Gallery Exhibits/Audacity of Hoops Media Advocacy Living Room Chats

Key Successes

Reduce open and vacant properties in NPU-V

Influence a foundation partner to focus on purchasing vacant properties

Vacant Property Commission