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Objectives:

• Identify the root causes of problems within your community, moving beyond the symptoms or consequences of these issues
• Helps uncover the third face of power (invisible), uncovering how systems convince us that lack of resources is “just the way things are.” </aside>

Time Required: 90 minutes - 2 hours

Resources Needed: Large sheets of paper, markers or crayons, large surface/tables; a digital whiteboard that can be used to collaborate.

Audience Setting: Community gathering, coalition, or organization

This activity can both be done in a virtual or in-person environment, with a preference for an in-person setting.

Problem Tree Diagram

Start with your tree “trunk” or problem before getting into the “branches” or symptoms & consequences. The probing questions for each question are there to guide you in building out your tree.

Branches

The “branches” are the visible consequences & symptoms of a problem and are usually widely felt. (Ex. hunger,  pollution, homelessness, and high rates of chronic conditions )

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Guiding Questions:

• How does this show up in your daily life?
• What happens to individuals and families when this problem occurs or remains unaddressed? </aside>

Trunk - START HERE

The “trunk” is the problem; this connects the symptoms or consequences to the root causes. (Ex. lack of grocery stores in a neighborhood, lack of affordable housing, no green spaces, and major highways near the neighborhood)

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Guiding Questions:

• What challenges do you or your neighborhood face day to day?
• What issues do we keep talking about but never see change on?
• What is something that feels unfair or broken in our community? </aside>

Roots

The “roots” are the causes of the problem, the beliefs and narratives that make the problem seem normal or inevitable, and the systems and power dynamics that keep the problem in place. (ex. Capitalism- corporations prioritizing profit over people, and  Racism- gentrification, segregation, preventing certain neighborhoods from accessing resources)

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Guiding Questions:

• What policies, programs, or practices allow this problem to exist?
• How are resources distributed; who controls that process?
• Are there historical events or policies that set this up?
• Who gains power or profit from this problem continuing? </aside>

Tips for using this tool:

1. Encourage systems thinking - look for structures (laws, institutions, budgets)
2. Name power explicitly at each level - who benefits from this problem staying this way?
3. Don’t overgeneralize: using “poverty” to capture the problem is too broad, try to narrow it down