Mapping Resources - What We've Been Trying to Build

Last week I posted an article talking about visualization strategies and encouraged readers to pass this on to others who might help us do the work, and share the tools and ideas with other cities.

I'd like to follow that up with an invitation for readers to look at the mapping strategies I've been developing since 1994.  The map above was created using an interactive map found here. 

This map uses poverty data and information on poorly performing Chicago public schools (from 2007 data). It shows locations of known non-school tutor/mentor programs, from the surveys done by the Tutor/Mentor Connection. And it shows assets who could be working together to help tutor/mentor programs grow in the map area shown. Assets are businesses, faith groups, colleges, hospitals, political leaders, etc.  Every neighborhood has a different mix. You can see more maps made using the Program Locator, on this blog, or on the Tutor/Mentor blog. Visit the map gallery, and see similar maps, but made using donated ESRI software.

I created this wiki page to show what I've been trying to do with GIS maps (starting in 1994), and to show current 2016 challenges. While others have been building their own online directories and are using maps, I don't see many with the goals I list on this wiki page,

I created another wiki page, just focusing on the Program Locator, and current challenges. 

While I'd love to have volunteers, partners and leaders form Chicago step forward to offer time, talent and dollars to help me do the work described in these wiki pages, this map shows that cities throughout the country have some of the same problems that we face in Chicago, meaning leaders from any city could step forward to help develop the program locator and our mapping capacity, with the goal of applying the strategy in their own cities. 

In fact, big cities throughout the world face the same challenges, so teams from anywhere could be helping me do this work. Actually, they already have been helping me. The program locator was created in 2008-9 by a team from India. The first on-line directory was built by a student from India in 2004. An intern from South Korea helped update one section of the program locator in 2014.

This work could be a project of a team of students/faculty and alumni from a college or university in any of these cities.  It just takes one or two inspired people to see the potential and begin to build support for the idea.

If you're one of them, I look forward to hearing from you.