Summer Recap

 

This summer we were able to accomplish setting up the platforms that we need to begin collecting the autoethnographies. These platforms include our website, and google forms. We have already gotten our google form translated to Spanish. And we are going to work on getting our flyer translated to other languages. This summer we were also able to redirect and begin doing work on another component of this larger issue, going beyond just learning about alternative 911 programs. We decided to work on the ethnographies so that we could highlight the voices of those who have been impacted by policing and the criminal justice system.

 

We decided that we were going to redirect from just researching the broad and extensive alternative emerging 911 programs and also hone in on looking into the more established alternative 911 programs because some of those programs have had many published studies and have already documented that the work and features of the program has been successful. So even though there are certainly many routes to go and features that would work in these programs, the feedback that we have been hearing is that the more established programs would be easier to explain and prove the efficacy of alt 911 models. 

 

We both are not from the Lehigh Valley, and have made this area one of our homes due to our attendance at Lehigh University. And while we are passionate about social justice we understand that our voices and even our experiences are ultimately not paramount here. We want and honestly need to listen to those who are full time residents, and have and are and will continue to be most impacted by these programs and policing. 

 

Goals:

 

New partnerships – we plan on gaining and establishing new partnerships through our distribution of materials and more importantly our flyer. Although several local establishments have been contacted, we still would like to solidify our strategy in regards to where we place our flyers as well as why. 

 

Distributing flyers and other recruitment materials – Our flyers need to be distributed in areas where there is a high probability of people interacting with our ‘product’. We have also considered the amount of interactions and web traffic we may be able to gather if we are actively sharing our work via social media– we think that this may bring about more total traffic, but from a different demographic as opposed to those interacting with the physical poster.

 

Collect more stories 

 

IRB approval: It is important that we get IRB approval so that we have the ability to collect these ethnographies in more ways. In order for us to collect these stories in person we need to get IRB approval, this is important to us because we think that we would be able to reach more people and collect stories from people who possibly don’t have access to the internet or devices that would be needed to complete the google form. Additionally, by gaining IRB approval we would be able to engage in deeper conversations with participants and close upon gaps existing through the first stage of our research.