All open source software has a development story. This session teaches participatory development, which teams can use to improve the quality and immediate impact of open source software. We will cover how to get started with participatory development, how this approach differs from typical open source software development, and we will discuss an example of how our team uses it in practice. Using a story based approach, we will share how our process endeavors to infuse principles of allyship and human-centered design as we co-develop GIS tools with communities on the frontlines of ecological and climate crises, to assert their environmental rights.