Y-PLAN MiniHands-on rapid learning experience for educators, students and civic partners

The Center for Cities + Schools created the Y-PLAN Mini to provide a hands-on rapid learning experience in the Y-PLAN method for civic leaders, teachers and studentscurious to experience how Y-PLAN can be an effectivetool for their classroom and practice.

The core milestones contained in the Y-PLAN Mini can be downloaded fom the publicly available Y-PLAN Toolkit, and implemented in 3-5 hours as an introduction to the Y-PLAN method.

©2015 Center for Cities+SchoolsUniversity of California, Berkeley

Key Mini Steps Include:

Define the Problem Community Mapping Brainstorm Solutions Present Ideas for Change Reflect and Take Action

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Y-PLAN Mini materials are for individual use only and may not be reproduced.

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!!!!!1"Start"Up""""!!

" " " " """ " " " """"""" What"We"Bring"to"the"Table"" " " " ""!!!!! “The!table!is!the!place!where!real!decisions!are!made.”!

!Each!person!on!the!team!has!strengths,!talents,!skills,!and!hopes!that!they!bring!to!the!project!(“the!table”).!Write!in!the!spaces!below!the!qualities!each!person!brings!to!your!team’s!project.!The!completed!puzzle!is!a!record!of!individual!parts!coming!together!to!create!a!larger!whole:!a!“community!of!practice.”!

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Name:!!City/School:!!What!I!bring!to!the!table:!

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Name:!!City/School:!!What!I!bring!to!the!table:!

Name:!!City/School:!!What!I!bring!to!the!table:

Name:!!City/School:!!What!I!bring!to!the!table:!

Name:!!City/School:!!What!I!bring!to!the!table:

Name:!!City/School:!!What!I!bring!to!the!table:

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Step%1:%Define%the%Problem!

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%Y4PLAN%Project%Question:%Getting%Down%to%Business!%

Project%City%and%Site%%_____________________________________________________________%%%Client%_____________________________________________________________%%%

Other%Community%Partners%_________________________________________________________________%

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Main%Project%Question:%What!is!the!problem!you!are%trying!to!solve?%%

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Key%Terms%%

• Healthy!Community:!______________________________________________________________"

• Sustainable!Community:!___________________________________________________________"

• Equitable!Community:!____________________________________________________________"

• _______________________________________________________________________________"

• ______________________________________"

What%are%YOUR%Questions?%%Is!there!anything!that!is!missing!or!confusing!about!the!question?!What!else!should!be!asked?!

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Step%2:%Community%Mapping%

%%% % % Neighborhood%&%Site%Mapping%!Name!__________________________________!!Location!_________________________________!!It!is!important!to!look!before!you!plan.!Site!observation!is!an!important!form!of!direct!action!research!and!a!way!to!gather!evidence!and!learn!about!a!neighborhood!or!project!site.!As!you!walk!around,!experience!the!environment!and!look!for!clues.!Pay!attention!to!noises,!smells,!the!feel!of!things.%Use$the$following$prompts$and$space$below$to$gather$evidence$and$take$notes$on$your$walk.$$

%Observe%%%%%•%%%%%Sketch%%%%%•%%%%%Take%Notes%%%%%•%%%%%Photograph%%%%%•%%%%%Listen%%%%•%%%%%Touch%%%%•%%%%%Smell%%Think%about…%!• Quality%of%Sidewalks:!broken,!cracked!or!uneven!|!continuous!|!width!|!curb!ramps!|!

protection!from!street!!!!!• Streets%&%Drivers:%traffic!signals!|!time!to!cross!|!crosswalk!|!pedestrianAactivated!button!|!

speed!of!cars!|!cars!stop!for!pedestrians!|!bike!lanes?%%%%%

!• Safety:%trash!|!people!|!traffic!|!lighting!|!dogs%$%%!!• Comfort%and%beauty:!trees,!grass,!flowers!|!art!|!bus!stops!|!lighting!|!litter!|!odors!|!sounds!!!

!!!!!

• People:%who!|!where!|!activities!|!is!your!walk!pleasant?!$ !

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Step%2:%Community%Mapping%

% % % %%% % % Neighborhood%&%Site%Mapping%(notes!continued)%!%Name!____________________________!!Location!___________________________!

$Observe%%%%%•%%%%%Sketch%%%%%•%%%%%Take%Notes%%%%%•%%%%%Photograph%%%%%•%%%%%Listen%%%%•%%%%%Touch%%%%•%%%%%Smell%

%

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Step%2:%Community%Mapping%

Site%Analysis:%Strengths,%Weaknesses,%Opportunities,%Threats%%%Location!_______________________________________!!This!chart!helps!record!and!structure!the!evidence!collected!from!your!site!visit.!Organize!your!notes!and!observations!into!the!four!categories!below.!!!

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Strengths% Weaknesses%% %

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Opportunities% Threats%% %

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Step%2:%Community%Mapping%

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % % %%%Telling%The%Story%–%Our%Mapping%Experience%%

Tell$the$story$of$your$team’s$site$walk$by$recording$your$observations$on$an$enlarged$map$of$the$neighborhood$or$project$site.$Using$an$actual$map,$or$a$hand$drawn$map,$highlight$the$physical$locations$where$team$members$observed:$landmarks,$special$places,$people$are$in$action,$vegetation,$open$space,$buildings,$and$other$activities$etc.$$Also$note$places$where$there$are$strengths,$weaknesses,$and$opportunities$to$be$addressed$in$your$team’s$proposals$for$the$future.$

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Step%3:%Brainstorm%Solutions%

%%% % % % % %% % % % % %%%Our%Plan%for%Change:%Presentation%Board%Preparation%

Use$this$diagram$as$a$guide$for$planning$and$starting$to$assemble$the$pieces$of$your$final$display$board.$While$you$may$vary$the$exact$placement$of$each$part$of$the$presentation,$the$board$must$have$most$of$these$elements$to$be$complete.$Your$final$visual$display$should$be$clear$and$well$organized,$creative,$and$demonstrate$evidence$and$critical$thinking.$Most$importantly,$it$should$express$the$freshness$and$unique$perspective$that$you$as$young$people$bring$to$the$table.$Key$questions$the$board$should$answer:$$$

• What%is$the$challenge?$• Why%is$the$challenge$important$to$address?$$• Where%do$these$challenges$exists?$(map)$• Who%are$the$members$of$your$community$of$practice$to$support$the$proposal$moving$

forward?$• When%will$each$activity$of$the$project$take$place?$$• How%will$you$accomplish$your$project?$What$is$your$proposal,$and$what$resources$are$

needed?$(Budget)$$

Theme

ExcellentVery G

oodA

rea for Im

provement

Why Plan?

Students apply core planning ideas to: •D

efine the project question•D

escribe the problem and context

•Formulate solutions

Developing Critical Thinking Skills

•Team dem

onstrates the research process byusing evidence and data.•Team

’s recomm

endations demonstrate insight

and out-of-the-box thinking.

Developing Com

munication Skills

Speakers comm

unicate ideas clearly, using pro-fessional vocabulary and visual aids.

Impacting Participants

Student proposals spark a change in attitudes, perceptions, and stereotypes of young people as legitim

ate comm

unity contributors.

Impacting Places

•Plans and designs incorporate youth insightand consider diverse users.•Proposals dem

onstrate increased sense ofyouth ow

nership, stewardship, and use of space.

Impacting Policies

Proposals are solution-oriented and connect students’ ideas to system

s of power and specific

policy issues.

Additional Com

ments (Please be specific!)

PLACES

POLICIES

Step%4:%Present%Ideas%for%Change%

% %%%%%%

Be prepared!!#The#final#presentation#w

ill#be#in#a#civic#setting#before#a#panel#of#experts,#including#your#client#partner.#Panelists#will#use#this#evaluation#chart#to#

assess#your#presentation#and#give#your#team#feedback.#They#w

ill#ask#questions#and#engage#you#in#dialogue#about#your#proposal#and#future#action#steps.#U

se#this#chart#as#a# tool#to#plan#and#practice#with#your#team

.%

!Step!5:!Reflect!+!Take!Action!

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Client!Letter!!

Think&about&Y-PLAN&experience,&and&write&a&letter&to&your&client&addressing&the&following&points:&&• What&are&3&things&you&learned?&• What&were&the&greatest&challenges/roadblocks?&• What&are&some&new&questions&you&have?&• How&have&you&changed?&• How&do&you&plan&to&stay&involved?&• What&are&3&action&steps&to&take?&

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