Conference Agenda

During the “Learning from Loss: Transformation in the Historic Environment in the Face of Climate Change” program in 2018, the international project team under the direction of Tom Dawson and Joanna Hambly developed a list of six questions that was posed to the public and to other heritage professionals. Sarah Miller participated in the program, and brought the questions back to Florida to compare qualitative responses with those collected in Scotland. Since that time staff from the Florida Public Archaeology Network undertook 11 additional Community Conversations about Heritage at Risk (CCHAR). This paper will look at the methods of collecting qualitative data from focus groups, how the questions developed or changed over time, how the program adjusted to Florida audiences, and initial takeaways from the first three programs in Scotland and then in Florida.

Employing a case study from three "Community Conversations on Heritage at Risk" conducted in Apalachicola, Florida, between January and March 2024, this paper proposes a detailed methodology for analyzing qualitative data derived from ethnographic research. Supported by a grant from the National Estuarine Research Reserve System's Science Collaborative and in partnership with the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, the case study utilized NVivo to systematically code audio transcripts. Analysis then identified key themes through both emergent data patterns and applied theoretical frameworks. Findings demonstrate the efficacy of NVivo in deciphering complex qualitative data, offering insights into community perceptions of heritage and heritage at risk due to climate and other impacts within the Apalachicola area. Also discussed are alternative software and methodologies for comparable qualitative analysis research efforts in focus group settings.

Community Conversations on Heritage at Risk (CCHAR) is an emerging public engagement program developed by archaeologists and cultural heritage professionals to explore community valuations of local heritage, particularly under the threats posed by climate change. This paper offers a practical guide to initiating CCHAR programs, emphasizing logistical preparations and data creation. Key considerations include the decision-making process around Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals, the importance of involving appropriate community partners, and strategies for effective participant recruitment. Furthermore, we discuss logistical needs such as audience size, audio equipment, session structure, and time constraints. The paper also outlines the transcription process, highlighting lessons from audio recordings of CCHAR sessions. Finally, we address the management of collected data, focusing on storage, format, and meaningful community feedback. Through this framework, the paper aims to equip practitioners with the necessary tools to effectively engage communities in safeguarding cultural heritage.

Archaeologists have historically been a part of the heritage-making process that impacts communities, whether intentionally or not. The integration of intersectional theory and the methodological approach of engaging the community for their perspective was a tool in developing the concept of equitable heritage-making. Community conversations with community members in Apalachicola, Florida offered ethnographic evidence on the socioeconomic factors that impact a community's heritage. Through a mix-methods approach, community conversations revealed the importance of Marronage in Florida, and its significance to the African American community. Using community conversations as a dual method along with underwater archaeological surveys highlighted the importance of using ethnographic data when archaeological data may not be present.

In this presentation, we examine community conversations on heritage at risk at three separate locations in South Florida. In Jupiter, Florida, we reflect on community conversations taking place on a federally managed site with significant local importance. At the Town of Fort Myers Beach, managed by the municipality, we reflect on challenges expressed by land managers in an area badly impacted by Hurricane Ian in 2022. At the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, we summarize discussions from community leaders and other stakeholders at a privately managed site viewed as the premier tourist attraction in the area. The authors draw upon these varying case studies to illustrate management challenges and successes in dynamic areas heavily influenced by climate change.

The Florida Public Archaeology Network’s Northeast Regional Center (FPAN NE) has hosted six Community Conversations about Heritage at Risk (CCHAR) throughout northeast and east central Florida. From Fernandina Beach to Merritt Island, FPAN NE has engaged local residents in considering the impacts of climate change on the coastal heritage in their area, what can be done to document and preserve it, and what it would mean if it was lost. Several of the events were held during the People of Guana project to gather input from the community during this study focused on the impacts to sites along the Guana Peninsula in South Ponte Vedra Beach. This paper will share insights from these CCHAR and relay how these conversations can help guide research and preservation efforts along the first coast.