In this class, we did Participatory Action Research (PAR) on the Waterville Revitalization project through the lens of social class. Participatory Action Research is not just research. In the name, you can see that it is participatory. This means that we walked around downtown and on campus and, spoke to the individuals who are directly involved, and who are directly impacted by the project. We trusted them as experts in their own experience in Waterville. Secondly, this research involves action. We are proposing specific action steps, developed through our research. We ask you all to consider your actions as well.
We come to this project with a lens of critical consciousness. Critical consciousness means being actively critical, even of the things that you love, and looking for ways to make them even better. Critical consciousness means recognizing that we live in an imperfect world, then finding ways to change these things and putting change into action. Know that when we are critical of this project, we are advocating for change, and we have specific suggestions to put this change into action.
The Waterville Revitalization project is not a black and white issue. We aren’t deciding whether this project is going forward or ending abruptly, and we can’t tell you if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. What we are learning is how we can make this project the best for everyone in our community. We want you to leave thinking about how we can make food more accessible for every person in the community, or how we can make a downtown dorm a positive for everyone who interacts with it, and how this can have a positive economic impact on the entire community.
In order to make this the best for our community, we need to address the variety of perceptions of the project that we have encountered. These perceptions vary drastically, and although we may hold our own opinions, we must realize the influences that social class and other factors have on these perceptions, and seek to understand how members of our community came to these ideas.
As you encounter our projects about Waterville Revitalization, remember to be critical, and remember the nuances. Ask questions, give feedback, and join us in this community conversation.
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