How to Use Power Mapping to Create Real Community Change

So, you give a damn about your community and you’re ready to step up and make something happen. Brava. Now what? Before you make a plan, before you even lock into what you want to get done, it’s time to do some power mapping.

Power mapping lets you see who has influence in your community. It can also help you figure out how to spot potential roadblocks, find the best ways to communicate, and (this is crucial) see your own blind spots. This is why it’s the first project we do with the women in the Local Leader Lab.

What is a power map?

A power map is a strategic exercise that helps you understand and navigate the people with power. It’s a visual tool that shows you who has any sway or control, whether direct or indirect, large or small.

You could call a power map the “table” where people, orgs, and coalitions have seats. In the Local Leader Lab, we call it a “community power ecosystem,” because all those different people in power are interconnected and interdependent.

“You don’t have to have it all figured out to start.”

—From the Local Leader Lab

What power mapping does

1. Articulates direct power: people who have clear authority over things like budgets and policy.
2. Shows you the influencers: people who affect the environment, tell the stories, connect others, or advocate.
3. Shows you how power can move through a community.
4. Lets you understand who doesn’t hold power, but should.
5. Helps you see where you need to learn more, and possibly who to start asking.
6. Helps you land on projects and approaches based on your relationship with the people in power.

How to create a power map

One thing to know about power mapping: It’s hard. Lots of folks in the Local Leader Lab realized that they knew a lot about certain areas and much, much less about others. That’s not only okay, it’s normal. You’ll use your map as a tool to get started.

“I realized I’m deeply connected in education but had to research where power lies in business and faith.”

—From the Local Leader Lab

Making a power map: 3 questions to ask

1. What’s my community, for the purposes of this map?

Some kinds of power are consistent no matter what you’re trying to do (your mayor is your mayor, for example). Others aren’t. If you’re interested in the unhoused, food banks and housing commissions will have power; they may not if you’re talking about the arts.

Start your power map by getting specific about the community your issue affects. Are you talking about your state? A town? A school district, a building, a group of people?

Defining your community will allow you to zero in on who exactly matters. It will also keep you focused. As one local leader noted when doing this exercise: “I went so big I forgot myself.” That’s easy to do!

2. Where are the power hubs, and who holds power?

Who makes decisions about budgets and policy, like the city council or the school board?
Who influences the general economic direction, like business leaders and unions?
Who advocates for the general good, like nonprofits and community organizers?
Who tells the stories, like influencers and local journalists?
Who brings people together around shared values, like faith groups and cultural centers?
Who influences young people and families, like schools and youth groups?
Who provides essential services, like hospitals and food closets?
Who knits the community together, like active residents, neighborhood groups, and librarians?
Are there other forms of power or influence people hold?

Draw your power map

Now you’re ready to translate your list into a visual map. Write your community name in the center. Draw circles for each major power hub, and add names in or near each circle.

Use solid or dotted lines wherever you want to show connections or collaborations. You can add question marks or leave things blank for areas where you don’t have info yet. And you can customize by adding extra notes or images. It’s your map!

Now that you’ve drawn your map, you can start reflecting. Are there people or groups that show up more than once, with influence across spaces? Are there areas that are obviously connected? Are there people or groups that might be missing? Are there power divides?

When the Local Leader Lab shared their maps, it became really clear that power isn’t limited to elected officials. Their maps showed them how it moves through business leaders, volunteers, librarians, newsrooms, and community chats.

Examples of power maps

Here are a few examples of power maps made by women in the Local Leader Lab. They’re all personalized to the communities and the perspectives of the people who made them.

A power map of Washington DC

In her power map of DC, Meg added some pictures to help her visualize the power hubs. She also added her notes about how the challenges some organizations in power are facing, as well as some first opportunities she spotted.

Click map to enlarge.

What to do with your power map

The first thing most people do is to start filling in the gaps. One of the most powerful things your map can help you do is understand what (and who) you don’t know. It helps you research and reach out. Your power map is a living document, and you’ll keep evolving it as you learn more.

Power mapping is just one step in deciding on a project. Another important step is looking at the factors underneath the surface of your issue. Things like laws, culture, and how the money moves can also shape the problem you care about.

Once you’re clear on both the power holders and the hidden factors, you’ll get a good sense of where your opportunities lie. Then, you can decide exactly what’s doable right now, with the best chance of success, and get started.