Making a Child-Friendly City Map
A guided course

Stage 11.5DiscussionExperience

Interviewing Community Members

Laying the Groundwork · Draft Foundational Documents

In section 1.4, we outlined the various benefits to having a CFC map in your city, and talked about how each stakeholder group (youth, caregivers, city staff, non-profit organizations) will view the benefits with a slightly different lens. You've had a chance to think about the benefits from your perspective and you've begun work on your Child Friendly Map Guiding Document. Now, you're going to experience your first bit of outreach to widen your perspective.

 Interviewing Community Members on the Benefits of a Child-Friendly City Map

In this activity, we want you to interview 5 community members on the benefits of having a child-friendly city map in your community. We recommend that you select a diverse group of 5 members that are made up of caregivers, friends or family, colleagues that you know well or those with whom you respect and feel would make a good thought partner. You will definitely want to interview a young person and, overall, you will want to have a group that represents diverse perspectives. We recommend each meeting last no longer than 20 minutes.

 Preparing for the Interview

When you reach out initially to your 5 interviewees, be sure to take a few moments to explain the CFC map course you’re taking, what a CFC map is and this assignment specifically. Briefly explain what to expect during the meeting–introduce the purpose, how long you’ll meet and that you are interested in hearing their point of view.

Bring a copy of a child-friendly map to each interview (or pull up one online while you talk). Most of your interviewees will have never seen one before, and looking at an example of a CFC map will give them context for the interview! Be sure to take notes during the interview to capture:

  • Name
  • Age
  • Any demographic factors of interest
  • Their ideas and perspectives regarding the benefits of having a child-friendly city map in their community
  • Ways they would use the map and with who
  • Any quotes that might be of use in promoting the map in the future

Have fun!