Touchstones
A walking tour of Rainier Beach using technology to explore the neighborhood.
TOUCHSTONES: A WALKING TOUR OF RAINIER BEACH
The Touchstones Digital Walking Tour: Lead walks using technology to explore the diverse places of Rainier Beach
The Touchstones Neighborhood Walking Ambassadors will use technology in a creative, engaging way to connect community members, help create a strong sense of place, and encourage involvement in future community development efforts. Touchstones will help bring out the special qualities that are valued about Rainier Beach -- its diversity, sense of safety, walkability, and livability.
The Touchstones digital walking tour will reveal the people, history, and heritage of 12 locations in Rainier Beach. Touchscreen devices will be used as portals to online content through QR codes and Wi-Fi access points at each location. Online content will tell the history of each location, explain the heritage of the community, and highlight the contributions of individual residents. Walking tour participants can contribute their own stories through touchscreen devices, sparking a collective discussion of the past and present, with the ultimate goal of engaging residents in actively shaping the future.
These walks will be opportunities to explore the area, discuss the history and future of the neighborhood, learn about secret places, discuss various roles and values, and create relationships that can empower the community.
Get involved! Feet First is currently recruiting individuals interested in leading Touchstones Digital Walking Tours. Contact Volunteer Coodinator Darcy Edmunds to become a Touchstones Neighborhood Walking Ambassador today.
The Multimedia Storytelling Project: Tell your story of Rainier Beach through Touchstones!
Feet First is currently looking for youth in the Rainier Beach community to create digital stories of their experiences living and walking in the neighborhood. Final videos created in this project will be accessible to Touchstones Tour participants through the QR codes of each Touchstones site and will function as portals allowing visitors to experience Rainier Beach through YOUR eyes!
Videos will be created using IPod Touch devices. Project participants will receive training on the technology and storytelling techniques, and will be provided with access to IPods to record and edit videos.
Possible themes:
- History, present, and future of Rainier Beach
- The everyday journey through Rainier Beach
- The youth experience in a multi-generational community
- My favorite place in Rainier Beach
- Walking as both transportation and community interaction
- Come up with your OWN theme — what story do you want to tell?
Thanks to our community and project partners
