Building Community Through Stories: A Workshop on Ripple Effects Mapping

​The Southern Deliberative Democracy Network (SDDN) recently convened a dynamic two-day workshop in Montevallo, Alabama, introducing Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) as a powerful, story-driven evaluation method. By centering personal narratives and community strengths, REM offers a rich alternative to traditional data-focused assessments. Participants didn’t just learn the technique—they embodied its values through shared storytelling, deep reflection, and genuine connection. The experience not only equipped attendees with practical tools but also rekindled a sense of shared purpose and community. Read more in the blog post below.

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​The Southern Deliberative Democracy Network (SDDN) recently brought together community leaders, facilitators, and practitioners in Montevallo, Alabama, for an innovative two-day workshop exploring Ripple Effects Mapping (REM)—a participatory evaluation method that captures community impact through storytelling and reflection. With support from the National Issues Forums Institute and guidance from expert facilitators, participants didn't just learn about REM; they experienced its transformative power firsthand.

​Beyond Traditional Evaluation: The Power of Story-Centered Assessment

​Ripple Effects Mapping offers a refreshing alternative to purely quantitative evaluation methods by centering human stories and lived experiences. Grounded in Appreciative Inquiry principles, REM focuses on strengths and what's working, creating living maps of interconnected relationships and impact that numbers alone cannot capture. Through guided storytelling and reflective dialogue, participants trace how change spreads through communities in both expected and unexpected ways, revealing the full complexity and nuance of community work across multiple areas of well-being using the Community Capitals Framework.

​From Learning to Connection: When Practice Becomes Purpose

​What made this workshop particularly powerful was how participants moved beyond simply observing the process to actively experiencing it. Even in practice sessions with fictional scenarios, moments of genuine empathy and connection emerged, demonstrating REM's ability to foster relationships and create space for what matters most in communities. For practitioners who regularly hold space for others, the workshop provided a rare opportunity to slow down, reflect, and recognize themselves in one another's stories—embodying the very connection and reflection that REM is designed to support.

​Growing Networks Through Shared Purpose

​True to SDDN's mission of strengthening civic life across the South, the workshop accomplished more than skills building. Participants left not only equipped with new tools but inspired by a renewed sense of collective purpose and strengthened network connections. As one participant noted, the experience reminded everyone to celebrate people and stories rather than getting lost in the weeds of daily work, while another emphasized the value of the new collaborations and ongoing learning relationships formed during the gathering.

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Want to learn more about this innovative approach to community evaluation? Read the full article about the Ripple Effects Mapping workshop and its impact on the Southern Deliberative Democracy Network: https://nifi.org/tracing-ripples-strengthening-networks-how-ripple-effects-mapping-builds-community-through-storytelling/