Civic Participation and Community Action Sourcebook

Prep and Practice

Goal-Setting with the EFF Citizen/Community Member Role Map

The “Equipped for the Future” Citizen/Community Member Role Map is a description of the things that effective community members know how to do. It was created by hundreds of people who, themselves, are community activists. The map can be useful for helping adults examine their experience and strengths, and for identifying areas in which they’d like to develop further.

1. Before looking at the role map, ask the group what they think a “Citizen/Community Member Role Map” is. After some predictions, you might explain it as a description of the things that active community members know how to do.

2. Brainstorm a list of thoughts on what effective community members do. Sort the list into categories and give them titles (make your own “map”).

3. Based on your map, talk with a partner or small group about the activities that are your strengths.

4. Write about an example of one of your strengths, or about how you learned to do the activities you are strong in.

5. Look at the role map. Citizen Role Map

To break it down into manageable chunks, you can:

• Discuss the four section titles: Are these the right ones? What might be in them?
• Have four groups each take one of the sections to read and report on.
• Cut the map apart and put all the bulleted items in a hat. Students pull items out, one at a time, and decide which category that item belongs under.

6. Compare your map to the EFF map; revise your map if you want to. ESOL beginners, especially, might prefer to make their map with pictures.

7. Compare the abilities you need, here and now, to the abilities needed in your parents’ generation, or in your place of origin.

Then ask the group to see if they can find any activities on the map that they would like to be able to do better, and for what purpose. If there is consensus, these could become class goals.

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