The study, performed by Dr.
Montenegro-Menezes, took approximately 10 months to complete and included three
phases: qualitative data collection that included one-to-one interviews, focus
groups, comment boards, maps, marbles, and graffiti walls; online and face-to-face
survey collection; and extensive analysis, report preparation and presentation.
The study provided an opportunity to engage the community in dialogue about
values, identity and wellbeing, in order to gauge values and understand how
residents perceive the community and their overall quality of life in Amherst.The
surveys were fairly distributed amongst thetown’s voting precincts, and the level
of participation far exceeded the expectations of Dr. Montenegro-Menezes and
Amherst Together.
“We spent extra time out
in the field to obtain valid sampling from each of the voting precincts and we
managed to gather more information from more people than any of us had hoped.
It has taken additional work, including the need to recruit a fresh round of
student volunteers, but they were spectacular. We gathered the input of 1052
participants in the overall process and collected 456 survey responses, which
exceeded the initial target (380),” says Dr. Montenegro-Menezes. “The response
and comments implythat the residents have a strong interest in this community.The
study and the overall outreach will have long-lasting benefits for the
community.”
Amherst Together intends
to use the final survey results to help identify priorities for Amherst
Together and develop recommendations for collective impact, to be addressed
over the next several years.
“A tremendous amount of
work went into this effort. Dr. Montenegro-Menezes and research analyst
Jennifer Stromsten went above and beyond to provide this service and deliver a
comprehensive report for our community. This study, based on reliable and
validated data collection, gives us solid information for continuing our
efforts to encourage authentic collective action,” stated Carol Ross, of
Amherst Together.
Recent Amherst Together activities
include the TAP THE MAP! online interactive map, the Who Are You? Identity Challenge and the Eyes Are The Window digital
poetry exhibit. Amherst Together is a town-wide project intended to creatively
advance community, collaboration, equity, and inclusion.For more information or
to get involved, contact Carol Ross at 413-362-1820 or rossc@arps.org, www.amhersttogether.org
