Maps that should be part of learning in US schools

In this Vox.com article the author shares sixteen maps that most American's probably don't spend much time thinking or talking about.  I created this montage from the maps in the article.

Opportunity Index article in Chicago Tribune

Below is a Tweet that points to article in today's Chicago Tribune, describing the different opportunities available to youth in different parts of Chicago.

Same city, different opportunities: Study maps life outcomes for children from Chicago neighborhoods https://t.co/OxZBvIH72E pic.twitter.com/3jNNhsoJps

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) October 17, 2018

In the concept map shown below I point to several different data platforms that you can use to understand where people need extra help.

Click here to open cMap. Then click on box under each node to open links.

The number of data maps has grown tremendously over the past 10 years. However, the number of people using these as tools to guide needed resource, jobs, health, education and youth support programs into each of these areas has not yet grown to the same extent.

World Wide Inequality Index - Interactive Map

Inequality Index

I created the Tutor/Mentor Connection in 1993 with the goal of collecting and sharing information showing work being done in some parts of the world that could be borrowed and duplicate in other places.  Instead of constant reinvention, we need constant learning and innovation.

With that in mind, here's a web site/data map showing a World Wide Inequality Index, which is an annual "global ranking of governments based on what they are doing to tackle the gap between rich and poor".

Reclaim American Dream

Here's another example. This is from the Reclaim the American Dream web site. On a map showing US states you can find information showing legislative work being done in some states that can be inspiration and models for similar work to be done in other states.

Click here to see map

I've been adding links to sites like this to various sections of the Tutor/Mentor web library, and to the concept map shown at the right, as well as posting stories that point to some of them. (see links on right side of this blog)

I learned about the Inequality Index from an article on the From Poverty to Power blog, which is one of the blogs I point to in the web library.

I don't have any money for advertising (never had much) so use my blogs and social media to try to draw attention to the information I'm putting in my library. As others share this in their own networks, my goal is that more people will learn to use these platforms to learn what's working in some places that might also work where they are located, if they can find resources to implement the ideas.

Thus, getting people involved from every sector is really important if we want to try to reduce some of the complex problems facing us in Chicago, the US, and around the world.

You can help by following this blog, or the Tutor/Mentor blog, and sharing posts on social media sites.

If you value the work I'm doing, and the web library I host, please visit my FUND ME page and send a contribution. 

Mapping Opportunity - Casey Community Opportunity Map

Community Opportunity map view

On Monday I posted an article showing a map of Chicago's West Side neighborhoods, using an Opportunity Atlas which was featured last week in a New York Times article, and has been mentioned often on social media since then.

Today I found a different Community Opportunity Map, created and hosted by the Casey Family Programs.

Opportunity Atlas map view

Both of these platforms offer a load of information.  I am particularly impressed with the Casey map, in how easy it is to draw boundaries around an area and receive a table of data showing different indicators for that area.  I drew the entire West side just to compare one map with the other, and with the map I host that shows non-school youth tutor and/or mentor programs in the same area.

Chicago Tutor / Mentor Programs

Neither of the two opportunity maps has layers of information showing youth and family services and other assets in these areas, which all need consistent attention and an on-going flow of talent, ideas and operating dollars to be effective.

Thus, users will need to do what I do, which is combine map views from different platforms in order to tell a story that starts out showing where people need help, then moves to an analysis of what help is already available, and then a conversation of how to help existing services grow and stay available, while also filling voids where more services are needed.

If this is a process you're applying through your planning and community support efforts, please share a link to a web site where you describe and show your work.

Like the information I'm sharing? Go to this FUND ME page and send a contribution to help me keep doing this.

Where You Live Makes a Difference

Below is a Tweet from today showing maps created using the Opportunity Atlas which is a resource of Opportunity Insights. If you view the Tweet you'll see links to a New York Times article in which the map is described in detail.

Much of the Southeast looked bad in earlier Chetty data. But there are good pockets within cities there. In great regions like Seattle, there are problem spots, too: pic.twitter.com/tOP4d46ure

— Emily Badger (@emilymbadger) October 1, 2018

Below is a map view, showing Chicago's West side, which I created using the Opportunity Atlas.

I've added a link to this site in the Tutor/Mentor web library and to a concept map which I use to show links to data indicator platforms like this.

What's great about this Opportunity Atlas platform is that it enables you to zoom into the neighborhood level. Thus, you can focus on pretty small sections of Chicago or other places to understand where people have the greatest need for greater youth and family support systems.

I've been using data maps to focus attention on places where people need help and to draw resources to non-school tutor/mentor programs operating in these areas. Or to help create new programs where too few exist.

I maintain a list of Chicago tutor and mentor programs which I show on the map at the right.  If you were to compare this, to other data maps, you'd see that this is where programs are needed.  Now you can click on the icon for each program, then go to their web site, and try learn what they do, who they serve, and how you can get involved, or help them constantly improve the impact of their work.

Visit the Tutor/Mentor blog articles here, here and here, where you can see a couple of recent articles I wrote using maps of Chicago neighborhoods.

Here's an article on this blog, where I used the interactive Tutor/Mentor Program Locator to create a map view of Chicago's West side.  The Program Locator was built in 2008 and has layers of information that include assets (business, faith groups, hospitals, universities, political leaders) who should be working to fill neighborhoods with hope and opportunity, because they share space in those areas. 

Unfortunately, the Program Locator is not working and I don't have the funds or tech skills to fix it. And I don't see many (any) who are using data maps the way I have been, to try to mobilize resources to build and sustain needed youth and family services in all of the areas where the data maps indicate there is a need.

That's why I keep asking people to help me, and to make contributions to my FundMe page.

Chronic School Absences - Interactive map

The map at the left is a screen shot of this page, which host an interactive data map that shows chronic school absence rages for areas as small as a single school.

This article provides a great tutorial on how to use this resource.

I zoomed into Chicago and could have created an even closer view of any part of Chicago. However, this resource covers the entire country.