Who gets to be the face of co-generated knowledge? Traditionally, participatory methods get talked about by the scientists who employ them, especially in academic conferences or in policy or government events. But the move to a singular voice in spaces of power and knowledge-making seemed to belie the highly participatory and empowering process that had made the impact evaluation, "community-driven". This is the question that moved applied anthropologist, Dr. Laura Gorbea to design a new way forward. Gorbea's vision showcased different voices, each speaking as experts on a theme, and providing a variety of media to provide the audience with an immersive experience that would help communicate the intangible benefits of co-generating knowledge.
The result was the proposal of a participatory and immersive panel presentation at the Society for Applied Anthropology, which was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The panel titled, "Advancing Equitable Disaster Recovery: Voices from the field." The panel was comprised of 4 panelists in 3 presentations and include videos, showcase a collaborative mural and artifacts used in the making of a participatory impact evaluation. To overcome the language barrier, a co-presenter that was fluent in English would assist and the Spanish language community researcher would add her narrative and explanation via short videos that were subtitled. Both resources would be on stage and at the table however to answer questions. The papers were developed in both languages to aid collaboration. The process was again facilitated by Dr. Gorbea, who provided the final writing support.
Among the artifacts shared in the room were the collaborative mural that accompanied the team across the Island while gathering data. An exhibits of artifacts from the field helps show how activity "placemats" can organize activities and gather data. The Facilitation Guides prepared for all Community Workshop resources were also brought as a way of showing how knowledge was shared before hand throughout the process. Finally a collage of the over 30 training sessions, data parties and research meetings was built to include QR codes to videos of the Steering Committee and Research Team's reflections on the work at different stages of the process. The field was in effect transported with a richness of voices and artifacts, moving participatory and community engagement concepts from abstract to concrete.
We provide below details on the content of the panel session and include images of our time in Santa Fe.
Panel Session Title: Advancing Equitable Disaster Recovery: Voices from the field
It has been six years since Hurricane María and yet only 23% of the $79.3B disaster funds have been disbursed. In the context of widespread practices that exclude many of the most vulnerable from accessing disaster recovery funds, those who live and work in Puerto Rico know there is still much work to be done. This panel brings together stakeholders engaged in a private disaster recovery program. At different points in time, they each asked, “am I helping advance a more equitable disaster recovery? What can I do?”
- Abandoned Homes and Disconnected Lines: Challenges in mapping recovery and learning
Authors: Stephanie Martínez, Myriam Miranda, Damary Pagán, and Laura Gorbea
Given the task of mapping the path to communities in need, a geographer recounts her process as she sets out to discover the need that often rendered invisible by census data. The presentation analyzes the benefits and limitations of using different sources of data and how these can be cross-referenced to identify the next community where houses can be repaired. However, once the community is identified, new challenges arise. Undeterred, the team continued to advance recovery with equity and inclusion. Solutions and approaches to advancing equitable recovery are shared.
- “Mi Casa es su casa,” The role of story-telling in equitable disaster recovery
Authors: Myriam Miranda, Héctor Crespo, Frank Aquino, Dévora Colón, Kellys Cirino, Teresa Rivera, and Laura Gorbea
Everyone has a story to tell. In this case, Myriam’s story, illustrates how a program participant’s role evolves from beneficiary and storyteller to leader in the cogeneration of knowledge about equitable recovery. In the end, Myriam’s home and her relationship to disaster research are transformed. What enticed her to “share her story”? How was her interest and participation sustained over 2 years? Myriam’s journey was shared by others join her in reflecting on the impact and benefit of using stories in techniques such as Most Significant Change, Outcomes Harvesting, and the Impact Evaluation to advanced equitable recovery and learning.
- The transformative power of a “Fiesta de datos” in learning about disaster recovery
Authors: Laura Gorbea, Myriam Miranda, and James O’Malley
Is it ok to talk about a “data party” when we are evaluating the course and impact of disaster recovery efforts? In the case at hand, during the impact evaluation of a housing focused recovery program, community collaborators gave a resounding “Yes, please!” This paper explores the concept and practical use of data parties as a participatory method that operationalizes equity and inclusion in data analysis, adds rigor and advances usability of the findings. In the case at hand, what was intended to perhaps be one data party, evolved into a circuit of events that helped transform the level of engagement across stakeholders.