1. Revive. Renew
Southeastern Council of Foundations 41st Annual Meeting
Mobile, AL
November 10th 2010
Presented by:
Jason Reece
Senior Researcher
Reece.35@osu.edu
The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity
The Ohio State University
www.kirwaninstitute.org
1

2. Opportunity Matters: Space, Place, and Life
Outcomes
 “Opportunity” is a situation or condition that places individuals in a position
to be more likely to succeed or excel.
 Opportunity structures are critical to opening pathways to success:
 High-quality education
 Healthy and safe environment
 Stable housing
 Sustainable employment
 Political empowerment
 Outlets for wealth-building
 Positive social networks
2

3. Mapping Opportunity: A diagnostic tool to
understanding our relationship to opportunity
 The Kirwan Institute has conducted
“opportunity mapping” for states and
metropolitan regions across the US
 Projects in at least a dozen states
○ Full State Analysis: MA, CT, OH
○ Regions: Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta,
Baltimore, Washington D.C., Detroit, Austin,
Sacramento, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, New
Orleans, Jacksonville, Portland OR
 Why identify the State of Opportunity?
3

4. Why Use Mapping?
 Why are maps so effective?
 3 Strong points
○ Communications
○ Analysis
○ Engagement
 Potential Uses
○ Looking at Intersections, Needs or Gaps in
Services, Targeting Resources, Communicating,
Engaging
 Other disciplines and sectors are using
multivariate mapping to problem solve
 Private industry
 NGO’s (Non Profit Sector)
○ Long history in the environmental field
 Public sector
○ Local Government
○ Federal Government
4

5. Example: Mapping Communities of Opportunity
& Affordable Housing (Post Katrina)
 Indicators to build an opportunity map were
identified in consultation with local groups close
to the ground
 Indicators selected represented five areas of
opportunity
 See indicators to right

9. Section 8 housing analysis
New Orleans Section 8 Housing Unit Distribution by Neighborhood Type (Number of Units)
Number of Units
Efficiency 1-Bdrm 2-Bdrm 3-Bdrm 4-Bdrm 5-Bdrm 6-Bdrm
Low and Very Low 1 84 309 405 55 10 1
Moderate 2 24 111 95 12 5 0
High and Very High 2 26 78 55 9 1 1
Unit Type
New Orleans Section 8 Housing Unit Distribution by Neighborhood Type (Percentage)
Percentage of Units
Efficiency 1-Bdrm 2-Bdrm 3-Bdrm 4-Bdrm 5-Bdrm 6-Bdrm
Low and Very Low 20.00% 62.69% 62.05% 72.97% 72.37% 62.50% 50.00%
Moderate 40.00% 17.91% 22.29% 17.12% 15.79% 31.25% 0.00%
High and Very High 40.00% 19.40% 15.66% 9.91% 11.84% 6.25% 50.00%
Unit Type

10. Analysis and Communications

11. Want to Learn More?
Resources & Reference Materials
 Mapping for Social Justice
 The Kirwan Institute Study:
○ Utilizing GIS to Support Advocacy and
Social Justice
 More on Opportunity Mapping
 The Kirwan Institute Reports
○ Communities of Opportunity: A
Framework for an Equitable &
Sustainable Future
○ The Geography of Opportunity: A Review
of Opportunity Mapping Research
Initiatives
 All Available on-line at: kirwaninstitute.org
11

12. Want to Learn More?
Resources & Reference Materials
 Mapping & Advocacy – Two recent
articles from Clearinghouse Review
 Jason Reece and Eric Schultheis. Poverty’s Place:
The Use of Geographic Information Systems in
Poverty Advocacy. Clearinghouse Review Journal of
Poverty Law and Policy. January-February 2009.
 Maya Roy and Jason Reece. Poverty’s Place
Revisited: Mapping for Justice & Democratizing Data
to Combat Poverty. Clearinghouse Review Journal of
Poverty Law and Policy. July/August 2010.
 To access, visit Clearinghouse
Review at:
 www.povertylaw.org/clearinghouse-review
12