Local Guides means a chance to be involved with something bigger and have more opportunities to explore ways to be significant. It has been really fun to be encouraged to participate and build on my experience. I’m curious how this program will benefit from my attendance at the conference. Will it provide me with some special skill that will help boost the program?
The Local Guides program was introduced to me while I held a job role at a public school district is Texas. The job detail included processing Federal Meal Program applications and fostering a community of safety while providing benefits to help support children to thrive.
Google is a go-to for many when seeking information. As a personal go-to map and navigation system I was surprised when Google Maps had little information about the area I was working, but it definitely explained why I received so many inquiries and clarification on where to find me. My role specifically involved helping an economically disadvantaged population where many families only access to technology was their cell phones. With a need to provide multiple options to apply and submit applications as well as a hub to answer questions in a safe and confidential environment, I knew I could do better. I felt adding the information to Google Maps would help alleviate a chunk of inquiries by making the information more easily accessible and without having to attempt to provide cardinal directions based off surrounding landmarks in the area. Purely selfish intent here! Yet, it has been rewarding to see some of the significance of my efforts.
I have found myself in a position to reflect on why the heck I’m getting solicited by Google in any capacity to have our picture taken together. I enjoy the idea and it’s an inspiring way for me to create a yearbook to look back at while doing things I already enjoy. I enjoy finding myself involved in rewarding experiences and it has been a really fun way to spark my interest while documenting myself in a more extroverted way. I’m curious where the badges I wear on social media and my true experience align when it comes to the Local Guides program.
There is a lot of joy to be had simply by offering a helping hand. Since moving to Austin Texas from Chicago Illinois the size of my community was greatly reduced. As a result I spend most of my time with my dog Champ. I hope to see how I could be more useful with my participation in Local Guides. After following Local Guide and Google Maps tags on social media I have been introduced to how other Local Guides programs are addressing the needs in their areas. It has shown me a lot of unique ways to contribute to building the program. The numbers I’ve received suggest I’m doing some things really well. Yet, there is a lingering feeling that I could be a heck of a lot more helpful with more information and ideas to implement action.
One reason for being less involved is that after finding the Local Guides app in the Google Play Store, filled with excitement, the app only ever crashed on me. It seemed like it could be an interesting segue for me to meet and involve myself in productive activities with my fellow Austinites with an ability to streamline the integration of my information within one reliable hub. (Note: I tried running the app on a Samsung Galaxy S9).
As I look back at my experience and involvement with Local Guides I can’t help but feel like there is so much more potential to help build the program in Austin. The application process for the annual conference led me down many paths of reflection. It felt good that the program was introduced to me while my focus was on a job role and suggests I could operate at a successful level even when I feel defeated. It helps to put a lot of things in perspective and open the doors towards improvement.
Some photos of my best friend:
Inquisitive at Bull Creek:
Champ explores the trails along the Austin Greenbelt:
The drainage tunnel I went through before finding a public toilet and adding it to Google Maps:
