Practical Tools for CED: What Social Network Maps Can Offer

<p style="text-align: left">Last May, the following message went out over the Food Policy Network’s (FPN) listserv. “We are working to put together a process for network mapping one of our local food policy councils’ COVID response efforts. (The) purposes are to document the networks that were developed and the associated outcomes, as well as to use the map to help solidify networks and identify network gaps to fill in order to be better prepared for crisis response in the future. If you have any tools you’ve used to do this or something similar, I would appreciate if you’d send them my way.”</p> <p>The online discussion that followed highlighted the great advances being made in using different kinds of mapping tools. Planners, GIS and IT professionals and others have used geographic mapping tools for years and produce incredible results. But are there practical tools for other areas of government and community groups that bring the value of mapping to local problems? FPN members from across the country made ‘shout outs’ to tools.  Most were simple to use and effective for their local government/community food system needs around social connections, not geography.</p> <p>One type of tool is a social capital or network map. This allows you to visually show how various pieces (or people or organizations) in any process or network are connected. It is not based on physical maps – at least not initially. Imagine being able to show in one image how connections between various nonprofits are working together to provide basic needs for families [...]</p>