Part I
Foundations of Community Mapping
- 1 What Is Community Mapping? An introduction to Community Mapping as a structured process for understanding people, place, assets, needs, systems, stories, and relationships within communities. Defines the field, explains its purpose, and establishes the community-first philosophy that guides all mapping work.
- 2 The History and Evolution of Community Mapping Traces the evolution of Community Mapping from Indigenous knowledge systems through participatory movements, public health mapping, digital eras, and the emerging role of AI — revealing both empowerment and exploitation in mapping's history.
- 3 Understanding Community Explores the multifaceted concept of community — geographic, cultural, social, digital, institutional, and temporary forms — and addresses the critical question: Who gets to define what a community is and where its boundaries lie?
- 4 Place, Space, and Geography Introduces spatial thinking and the foundational distinction between place and space, explores physical and human geography, and examines how boundaries, mobility, and maps shape our understanding of communities.
- 5 Systems Thinking for Community Mapping Teaches students to see communities as complex, interconnected systems with feedback loops, root causes, leverage points, and emergent behaviors — essential groundwork for meaningful analysis and action.