Where we live has a significant impact on our quality of life and ability to thrive. Residents of a region are situated within a complex and interconnected web of resources and opportunities that shape their ability to meet their basic needs and advance their health and well-being. Geographic disparities in the distribution of these resources and opportunities create imbalances that disadvantage some communities and advantage others. This arrangement plays a decisive role in the health and prosperity of individuals, communities, and the region as a whole.
| How is an Equity Atlas Different from Other Types of Mapping and Indicator Projects? Equity atlases, opportunity mapping, and indicator projects offer unique and complementary contributions to our understanding of and ability to track community conditions. Click here for an overview of the complementary roles and relationships between these types of projects. |
Equity atlases provide a visual depiction of these disparities and enable us to understand how the benefits and burdens of growth and change are distributed across a region. Through the use of high-quality maps and data, equity atlases show where different demographic groups live; how well they are able to access key resources such as transit, quality education, affordable housing, jobs, food, clean air, and parks; and how these patterns affect their health and well-being.
By illuminating a community’s geography of opportunity, equity atlases can play a powerful role in supporting advocacy and policy change to promote greater equity.