Understanding our Past to Create an Equitable Future.
The Mapping COVID-19 Recovery project standardizes data through a series of maps illustrating where public, private and philanthropic sector investments have gone in communities of color devastated by the COVID pandemic. Since the project began, its goal was to strategically reinvest towards recovery to close historic funding gaps and rebuild stronger communities.
Mapping Equity to Drive Impactful Philanthropy - From 2022 SXSW Conference
On March 13, 2022, Maria Pesqueira (Healthy Communities Foundation), Angelique Power (The Skillman Foundation, formerly from The Field Foundation) and Beth Swanson (A Better Chicago) participated in the 2022 SXSW Conference in Austin, TX to discuss and reflect upon the Mapping COVID-19 Recovery Project. Watch their full panel discussion "Mapping Equity to Drive Impactful Philanthropy" moderated by Natalie Moore (WBEZ Chicago) here! Read the full recap here.
Outlining the Problem
The ongoing COVID pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black and Latinx communities in Chicago. The death toll has continued to be exceptionally high for the Black community and the Latinx community continues to test positive at high rates. The COVID pandemic has only highlighted inequitable policies and historic divestment on Chicago's south and west sides and in surrounding suburbs, which created the tinderbox; COVID is the current match.
Community recovery will require collective action to rectify history rather than repeat it.
We believe data transparency will help drive COVID recovery.
Standardizing data related to where public, private and philanthropic investments go will provide the framework for shifting essential resources to BIPOC communities and BIPOC-led organizations.
Communities That Have Been Continually Impacted by Structural Racism
To reimagine and transform our communities, we must clearly understand how COVID's racialized impact happened. While data and maps do not capture the full picture, these maps help bring clarity and transparency to increase community power, wellness and wealth.
The Study Area:
Auburn Gresham, Austin, Brighton Park, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Humboldt Park, New City, North Lawndale, Roseland, South Chicago, South Lawndale, South Shore, West Englewood, Cicero, Markham, Maywood, Harvey, Robbins
Why Should You Care?
If we don't come together to fix this, all communities are impacted—not just economically. COVID has shown us that our health and well-being are linked. Dismantling the tinderbox benefits everyone.