Asset Mapping to Identify Potential Map Partners

Once you have assembled your child-friendly map team (aka project managers), you will begin brainstorming map partners. This is an important exercise since partners are the key community organizations and community members who will provide input to the map-making process, and you'll want to choose wisely. The role partners play in a community will range greatly--from city planners with map making software skills to non-profit organizations working with children and youth in the community to caregiver groups and classrooms of school children. At Growing Up Boulder, we worked with over 30 organizations, some of which were local museums, the library and city departments, as well as Head Start classes, public school caregiver groups and after school programs.

Please know that it isn't essential to have a huge list of partners with whom to work right off the bat--start small if that feels best. We recommend a contact from the city or the local chamber of commerce who has connections across city groups, and a source for engaging with children and youth. We also value engaging with diverse groups of youth (age, identity, race, gender, ethnicity, etc.) so your map reflects a broad range of perspectives and lived experiences. Tip: caregivers of children and youth, especially of children ages 0-5, are a wonderful resource in terms of having ideas about what to include in a child-friendly city map.