“As we define it, a Theory of Change defines all building blocks required to bring about a given long-term goal. This set of connected building blocks–interchangeably referred to as outcomes, results, accomplishments, or preconditions is depicted on a map known as a pathway of change/change framework, which is a graphic representation of the change process. Built around the pathway of change, a Theory of Change describes the types of interventions (a single program or a comprehensive community initiative) that bring about the outcomes depicted in the pathway of a change map. Each outcome in the pathway of change is tied to an intervention, revealing the often complex web of activity that is required to bring about change. A Theory of Change would not be complete without an articulation of the assumptions that stakeholders use to explain the change process represented by the change framework. Assumptions explain both the connections between early, intermediate and long term outcomes and the expectations about how and why proposed interventions will bring them about. Often, assumptions are supported by research, strengthening the case to be made about the plausibility of theory and the likelihood that stated goals will be accomplished.”
http://www.theoryofchange.org/what-is-theory-of-change/
The semester is beginning to wind down, I think this is a good time for me to reflect a little bit on my experience so far, being charged to innovate within the context of Civic Tech. I have to say that I am very thankful and grateful for the opportunity to work with my team, with Microsoft NY, and with Eduardo, Nidhi, and Michelle inside the graduate lab. This, along with my being able to carry out research in the School of Media Studies, is the graduate school experience I hoped to get at The New School.
To reflect generally on all the partner dialogues in our lab so far, one thing I hear is an implicit tension between social actors, between the private and public sectors, between general citizenry, and tension in how all those interface. To hear each of our of partner dialogues is to listen to a culture in flux, and each sector and actor trying to find their foothold within that change. I see overlapping areas of concern between all our partners, even areas where all of the teams in class could collaborate.
As my team dives deeper and deeper into identifying what exactly the Civic Tech movement is, I find that my initial assumptions about several components of my team’s project have been challenged. I look back at my seed bomb idea and find it really arrogant. My idea came from a good place, but it seems that there are bigger problems that plants in and of themselves might not be able to address. To me, and after this semester of research, a successful civic tech project address several areas, literacy, usability, immediate community impact (the OH WOW moment), and the long term impact, additionally, how the project evolves over time. I’m not really sure if our project is art, advocacy, policy, intervention, hack, or a combination of all these things. I am looking forward to approaching a community as a partner, to create some type of sustainable project that, while addressing a community need, also illuminates other areas of opportunity. As an artist, my assumption is that art can address anything in a community, towards ‘fixing it’. But is it enough to ‘fix’ what we perceive as a community problem, or better to really understand a community and the issues it faces? I feel now that it’s a good thing to always ask these questions, to not just presume anything, to not simply presume art (or technology, or a combination of both) is enough.
After this semester I feel I can begin to contextualize the Civic Tech movement within a Theory of Change framework. I can certainly identify several key players and initiatives, each with a motive of creating change, innovating to ‘do good’. What becomes more difficult to define specifically is the ‘good’, good for whom, good for what type of community, good for what type of government, and good for what types of business, and how each of these play into some sort of easily identifiable long term goal. Doing ‘good’ may mean something specifically to me, informed by my defining the role of business, community, and government within that act of doing good, based on my morals and ethics. Someone else may see it differently. I think ‘doing good’ is constructing an environment where everyone has access to the means to ‘do good’. For me, government plays a large role in that process. Someone else may see that differently. I do not believe the private sector should be left alone to create that environment unless a market based solution is sustainable, accessible, and built on equality. Others may disagree. Perhaps this is where my team’s project will sit, in that area between public and private, where civic tech seems so eager to position itself. The question then very much becomes, creating change for whom…
