Coalition for a Livable Future highlights Equity Atlas 2.0
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By: Amy Gredler
We live in a region known for its natural bounty and quality of life. However, not everyone has access to the key resources needed for good health and well-being. Thanks to the Coalition for a Livable Future (CLF) and their Regional Equity Atlas 2.0, we can get a better picture of the “geography of opportunity” by creating maps that tell the story of inequities in our region.
The atlas maps demographic data; access measures such as food, housing, and transportation; and health outcome measures such as rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Clark Counties. The maps can be used to build the case for equitable policies, set priorities, define the need for resources, or describe specific problems facing a particular community.The Equity Atlas 2.0, released in June 2013, is a unique interactive web-based mapping tool that allows anyone to access existing maps or create custom maps.
“It’s a tool that allows us to visually depict inequities happening in our region,” says Scotty Ellis, Equity Program Manager for CLF. “It gives everyone a starting point and allows discussions to begin.”
The development of the atlas was a collaboration between the Coalition for a Livable Future (CLF), Metro, and Portland State
University’s Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies.
Experimenting Encouraged
Recently, at a lunchtime presentation to more than 30 Multnomah County Health Department employees and community partners, Ellis showed how various indicators can be layered to zero in on very specific populations and access issues. He encouraged people to play with the dozens of indicators available in the mapping tool and experiment with what the tool can do.
For those who have not used a mapping tool before, the atlas includes a user guide and tutorials. In addition, CLF can provide introductory workshops, technical training, or equity analysis. The tool also includes a gallery of pre-developed maps and analyses that highlight key issues.
CLF published the first Regional Equity Atlas – a print-only version – in 2007. It was the first time nationally that maps were used to describe equity.
According to Ellis, the Regional Equity Atlas project started in response to its members' assessment that equity and its relationship to sustainable development was not generally understood by the public or policymakers. Ellis is proud that it also can support community groups and community members.
“The atlas empowers users to take the data and tell their own stories in their own way,” says Ellis.
Equity Stories Project
According to the CLF website, “The Regional Equity Atlas allows us to visualize the region’s geography of opportunity, but behind every map are real people who are living with disparities every day.”
CLF’s Equity Stories Project strives to share the experiences of people whose lives are affected by the patterns shown on the maps. Using a combination of video, photos, and narrative, the stories show very powerful individual experiences of inequities. Twelve diverse community organizations worked with CLF to collect the stories. The project includes a traveling exhibit that highlights these stories and collects new ones.
Next Steps
Ellis cautions that the atlas was built on a platform that is not tablet supported. “The initial development of the Regional Equity Atlas 2.0 began before tablets were released on the market. The tool was built to be a desktop tool. The online mapping tool unfortunately doesn't work on tablets.” One of CLF's goals is to migrate the application to a tablet-friendly format.
In addition, CLF recently received a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant to help replicate the Equity Atlas in other cities. CLF will be creating a toolkit and guidance to help other regions with equity mapping.