Author: Anya M. Galli
But these STEW-MAP outcomes only tell part of the story. The research planning and survey administration phases of these projects also provide opportunities to understand how, where, and when stewardship groups connect with one another. Before surveys were distributed in Philadelphia, the research team spent months tracking down organizational contacts and creating a master list of stewardship groups and organizations in the city. Prior to this project, no comprehensive list existed. Given that local groups tend to be under-represented in non-profit directories, the master list itself is an important and useful tool that can help stewardship groups as they work to “conserve, manage, monitor, restore, advocate for, and educate the public about a wide range of issues related to sustaining the local environment” (Fisher, Campbell, and Svendsen 2012).
My talk at the PSE Workshop on April 8 will focus on the process of conducting the STEW-MAP Survey in Philadelphia. Preliminary findings and comparisons with other STEW-MAP cities will also be reviewed. I hope you can join us!
Anya M. Galli is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park and a Graduate Fellow in the Program for Society and the Environment at the University of Maryland.