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TABLE TALK
An Action Toolkit for a More Equitable & Resilient Savannah
Table talk is a multi-stakeholder experiences that utilizes role play interaction, collaborative problem solving, and generative communication to build effective information channels within and between communities, industries, respective governments, and other interested parties. It ultimately helps align stakeholders making it easier to visualize and tackle complex interconnected problems.
PROJECT PARTNERSHIP
Harambee House: Citizens for Environmental Justice
The Savannah-based not for profit works to ensure equity and equality for underprivileged populations, most of whom are predominantly African American and are highly susceptible to ongoing gentrification and development.
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Harambee House placed our team with the West Savannah neighborhood of Hudson Hill. Hudson Hill is situated at the nexus of the 516 freeway, Savannah river, railway lines, Georgia Ocean Port, Colonial Oil, International Paper, and Great Dane Trailer Manufacturers. The neighborhood carries with it a rich history as its settlers were descendants of Central & West African freed slaves, who were collectively known as the Gullah/Geechee.
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Our goal was to understand the systems at work in Savannah and design a solution that leveraged said systems to create equitable and just opportunities for Savannah's most vulnerable populations
KEY INTERVIEWS
Neighborhood association president for Hudson Hill in West Savannah
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"We have been diligently working on the new problems we face these days. We require different skills sets. Zoning issues, environmental issues, residential issues - Industrial issues has escalated."
Bernetta Lanier
General Manager of Navigation Programs: Georgia Port Authority
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"We're more than open to, and have actively worked with the communities here in the past. - It's incredibly difficult to balance interested parties expectations."
Hope Moorer
Founder of Harambee House: Citizens for Environmental Justice
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"We work collectively with the Creator as our guide to help adults and youth find their voice, develop their full potential as leaders, and take collective action as community change agents who operate in excellence and integrity."
Dr. Mildred McClain
Head of the City of Savannah's office of Sustainability
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"Well, until I came here four years ago, Savannah didn't have a sustainability department - It started out as just me, and is now me and one intern. Progress is slow, but it's coming."
Nick Deffley
OBSERVATION
We canvased Hudson Hill and several surrounding neighborhoods on foot and discovered several additional key stakeholders that were not included within the original project parameters.
CO-CREATION
A community workshop was held where smaller groups of community members were instructed to create a joint visual story based on several cues. This exercise provided valuable insight into gleaning community values and was done in conjunction with another team who specialize in
facilitating creative thinking
CO-IDEATION
A lengthy post-workshop discussion provided direct insight into resident's concerns and pivoted our direction toward improving communication and information flows between stakeholders.
DEVELOPING
KEY INSIGHTS
VALUE MAPPING
Utilizing interview, survey, and observational data, we mapped what various stakeholder groups valued in terms of assets and services. We then aligned the map to observe key points of overlap and contrast. This process highlighted significant & contrasting differences in how key stakeholders assess and communicate values. A problem Table Talk aims to resolve.
VISUALIZING COMMUNICATION
With understanding the ebb and flow of communication between stakeholders being of key importance, we collectively compiled data and mapped every known connection. Communication channels were assessed based upon the known roles of the relevant parties, quality of information, quality of negotiation, and degree of relative power/influence. Each was finally
visualized by relevant insitituion.
PROTOTYPING
After collaboratively establishing a solid set of design criteria with Harambee House & Hudson Hill, several rapid prototyping sessions took place. After several iterations were evolved in conjunction with Harambee House, Table Talk was finalized.
UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM
Diagramming Communication, Information & Interaction Flows
THE MICRO
Communication issues at the micro
level impede equitable development
THE TOOLKIT
Components & Process
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WHAT'S THE GOAL?
1.  Visualize value and/or information exhange between stakeholders
2.  Build empathic skill set of participants
3.  Identify & clarify various 'blindspots' and biases of different roles
4.  Identify a shared vision for all stakeholders
5.  Identify opportunity spaces for plans of action
HOW IS IT PLAYED?
1.  Assign each participant a role
2.  Get participant's acquainted with their role
3.  Have each participant introduce their role to their new team
4.  Have the team pick a collective issue card
5.  Have the team set a specific goal for their chosen issue
6.  Get started on addressing the goal
7.  Incorporate new information provided by 'disruption' cards
8.  Use 'motion' cards to keep conversation flowing
9.  Assess the team's plan of action upon completion
10.  Reflect as a team on how conversation & collaboration went in relation to achieving the goal
WHERE IS IT NOW?
Completed versions of the Table Talk toolkit were handed off to both Harambee House: Citizens for Environmental Justice and The City of Savannah's Sustainability Department in a thorough debriefing with with our whole team; where we did some additional brainstorming into potential emergent uses for Table Talk. The toolkit continues to be evolved and is actively championed by Harambee House as they actively facilitate it as a starting point when working on new projects with new stakeholders.