POLICIES TO IMPROVE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: A PHOTOVOICE CASE STUDY Yanique Redwood, PhD, MPH 303 Community Coalition/The Dirty Truth Campaign Activate America: Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities February 18, 2010

Outline  Photovoice Overview  The Dirty Truth Campaign  Policy Highlights  Advocacy

Photovoice “Photovoice blends a grassroots approach to photography and social action. It provides cameras not to health specialists, policy makers, or professionals, but to people with least access to those who make decisions affecting 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-V residents 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 of vacant and/or blighted properties to be redeveloped into affordable housing opportunities for current and displaced residents of NPU-V

The Dirty Truth Campaign To work with and on behalf of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our community to create a platform for truth-telling that uncovers and transforms the policies and systems that undermine their ability to achieve 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