What We Do
We are guided by those on the margins of the city of Paterson to generate research that will support movements on the ground. We work in collaboration with community members to generate research questions, conduct research together and take guidance on where and what topics to research. We produce zines, maps, graphics and other visuals for the community to use in ways that validate community experiences, not to research the oppressed but to research the power of the city's corrupt politicians, police, and housing officials.
Who we are
The Paterson Mapping Collective (PMP) is a group of socially and politically conscious activists, writers, researchers and thinkers who have come together to visualize critical data on Paterson accessible in different ways. We seek to use our privilege and skillset to articulate critical perspectives about Paterson that capture and properly convey the sentiments, feelings, and history of the People of Paterson.
PMP functions as a decentralized and interdisciplinary collective that accompanies the grassroots. Decentralization means that the organizing structure does not rely on traditional top-down or hierarchical leadership. We are not ideologically driven but process driven. Our work is guided by an affinity of facilitators, point persons, and rotating coordinators to carry out research projects on injustices seen and experienced in the city of Paterson. The idea of collectivity is grounded in shared responsibility, mutual support, and communal care for our community.