I’m in the final year of my PhD studies, and while processing ‘official’ results of my studies, one of the greatest surprises for me from the process and work was learning how much I enjoy documenting residential narrative.
It was like opening a door to future paths, as I realized not only how much I enjoyed this work, but also how interesting this narrative, as a form of built environment and neighbourhood oral history, can be for recording and informing urban transformation.
The aspect of memory and documentation is critical, for my process, creating an experience that is also memorable for people is critical too.
Our daily life and experience of a community and place can affect so much- our affection for and attachment to that place, our investment in that place, our satisfaction, and quality of life.
I strongly believe in the role of healthy, common-sense urban governance for sustainable, resilient communities and believe these narratives, gathered in a process prioritizing direct ‘bottom up’ engagement with diverse locals whose lives are set in these places, can be practical and profound.
Next month, I embark on a new phase of urban oral history and citizen engagement as we prepare to host two different workshops for retired seniors in Radom, to engage them on memories of aspects of the city’s public spaces and changes over the years.
I also know the importance of collaboration for such community-engaged work and am grateful to have the support of two local university students to engage the seniors in their native language of Polish.
I look forward to future engagements and working with diverse communities to engage locals in processes of documenting urban memory, local challenges, potentials, and transformations.
~Annika
