Community Heart & Soul is an approach designed to help small cities and towns succeed by identifying and strengthening those characteristics that matter most to the people who live there. Community members must be deeply involved in this effort, which lets them connect with each other and the places and customs they care about. Community Heart & Soul begins with a partnership between local government and residents in a process that casts a wide net of engagement that works to identify and articulate what matters most to residents.
Story Gathering Sub-Team:
The Story Gathering uses the Community Network Analysis and the Story Gathering strategy tools to ensure that all demographics are reached in story gathering. They also ensure that Story Gathering events are designed to adequately capture people’s stories and participant data, as well as to promote relationship-building and connections. Additionally, they participate in coordinating the process of gathering ideas for action related to the Heart & Soul Statements.
Story-gathering team members that commit 5 hours or more per month receive:
- A $50 gift card
- Heart & Soul swag & gear
- Special recognition in promotional videos
- Featured on the Salem City Heart & Soul website
Volunteer training will be provided. Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Strategizes with the Project Coordinator(s) to create a Story Gathering plan using the Community Network Analysis (Provided in during volunteer training in The Story Gathering Strategy Worksheet.)
- Establishes and manages interview and small group storytelling schedules as part of events or individual outreach efforts
Calls and confirms appointments for thick stories and interviews, if needed:
- Collects interview sheets and ensures the proper identification (story identification number) is on each sheet
- Follows up with fellow team members to ensure completion of interviews/storytelling sessions
- With Data Management Sub-team, establishes system for tracking participant counts and demographics and progress toward meeting outreach and engagement targets set in project plan and based on Community Network Analysis
- Works with Story Listening Sub-team to ensure that there is a consistent flow of stories for story listening groups
- Using the Community Network Analysis and the Heart & Soul Statements, develops a strategy for gathering ideas for action
