Mapping For Justice

On-Line Social Mapping Ideas

2012-05-23T14:31:00.000-05:00

I first met Jim Cory of Horizon Mapping in Madison, Wisconsin around 2000 via an on-line discussion hosted by the Global Bank. He mentioned that he was doing some work with mapping so I sent him an introduction and asked if he could help me. Jim has been building maps for me for 10 years and helped create the first map gallery and interactive maps.

This map story is one that Jim did for me several years ago.

It's part of a "Rest of the News" strategy which I've been promoting since 1994 as an effort to turn "bad news" media stories into advertising that draws volunteers and resource providers into neighborhoods where tutor/mentor programs are needed. Without having help from GIS volunteers like Jim I could not be making these maps.

I recently asked what he knew about creating Google maps. After a bit of research Jim created this page, which is a tutorial that anyone can use.

I've already added a map to the Tutor/Mentor Connection forum, which will add to the network analysis work my interns have been doing. These maps will show where people in the forum come from and will hopefully help those located in the same parts of the world connect and share ideas and resources with each other.

Thanks Jim. I'll be sure to integrate these ideas into future mapping and network building that I do.

Interactive map of Chicago Wards

2012-04-10T12:19:00.002-05:00

This is an image from the interactive map of Chicago City Council Wards. Find it on the WBEZ91.5 web site.

The map does not show Ward numbers so you need to click on each area to see what Ward it is.

With help from donors/partners or sponsors we can put this map on the Tutor/Mentor Program Locator and overlay information about tutor/mentor programs in each Ward. Right now we do not have resources to do this or to update the other content on the Program Locator.

Broadband Adoption Map shows gaps

2012-03-27T16:05:00.003-05:00

Visit this page to see a map showing where Internet capacity is greater and less throughout the United States.

This is another demonstration of how maps can be used to create broader understanding of an issue as well as strategies to bring resources to under served areas.

Interactive map shows access to jobs

2012-03-09T14:28:00.002-06:00

I attended a Community Development Conference in Chicago and this opened up a wide range of new resources that I was not aware of and that might be useful to those working for the well-being of young people and families.

One speaker was from the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. When I visited his web page I found this information about "Transit Access, an interactive mapping application associated with the Missed Opportunity transit report, which presents metropolitan and neighborhood-level information on how transit connects workers to jobs in the nation’s 100 largest metro areas. See the map at http://www.brookings.edu/metro/jobs_and_transit/map.aspx

Use maps to change the political will!

2012-03-02T15:59:00.003-06:00

I encourage you to take a look at the Kids Count Data Center, which is provided as a service of the Anne E. Casey Foundation. You can make your own maps using the data on the site, or if you are a GIS expert, you can download the data and use your own GIS. I don't have a lot of time to dig through this DataCenter to know what types of maps can be produced, but I hope it has the capacity to go beyond state level to view the data at the city or county level. There is such a difference between poverty in big cities like Chicago and the rest of the state of Illinois that a statewide report does not really show how bad things are in the big cities.

Furthermore, I would like to see an example of how the maps can be used to build public involvement in actions that reduce poverty based on information shared by many organizations via the Internet.

I posted this article to show how maps could be used to mobilize enough votes to pass legislation regarding high school drop out issues.

I posted this article to show how people can make their own map stories using the Tutor/Mentor Program Locator.

And, I posted this article to show how people can communicate these ideas to their own networks and take responsibility for "expanding the choir" of people involved, and who ultimately vote for public policies favorable to helping the poor and the organizations helping the poor.

I'd be happy to spend a couple hours with your organization or company to help you understand and apply these ideas. I'd love to help your school create a Tutor/Mentor Institute Club, where students learn to apply these ideas so they can have a greater impact on what adults to to support their own learning opportunities.

Map of Citizen Engagement

2012-02-28T13:00:00.002-06:00

I encourage you to take a look at this site which includes a growing map of people involved in social change throughout the world.

This is a project of Edgeryders and Citizens in the Lab, who "want to collect examples and showcase the cultural innovation which is shaping a new way of making our way in the world. We are interested in new kinds of employment, social enterprises and other projects which embody new values, cultural centres, galleries, projects and teams. If it's a place that people can visit, so much the better - take a tour in your own city or while you are traveling, and see some of the New Planet."

Business for Good Map

2012-02-09T20:05:00.005-06:00

The map below is created by the US Chamber of Commerce and is a great tool to show business involvement, by company and by category, all over the world.

If this map does not open, visit this page to see the actual map.

If we can connect with the people leading this effort perhaps we can combine the map-making purposes of the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC so that over time a map of business involvement in tutor/mentor programs in all parts of the world would show involved from more and more business groups in a larger number of places.

Furthermore, if we can connect with their marketing groups then at key times of each year company communications, PR and social media would be encouraging people to volunteer, donate, or join learning circles where they could do more to help every tutor/mentor program constantly improve their impact on youth and the volunteers who are involved.

Concept Maps Connect information and people

2012-02-09T10:21:00.002-06:00

One type of maps that we've been piloting shows the geographic areas of the Chicago region where well-organized tutor/mentor programs are most needed. Leaders can use maps like this to organize actions that support existing programs with volunteers, dollars, technology and ideas, while helping new programs start where too few exist.

Another type of map can help organize information or show the connection of people and ideas who all share the same goals, but who may not yet be connected to each other. This concept map shows high school drop out prevention resources, ideas and people that I've connected with over the past decade.

While I've been creating these maps I keep looking for teams in high schools, colleges, businesses and/or faith groups who will share this work with me, not only mapping resources to help Chicago, but mapping resources to help kids in any part of the world! Introduce yourself on Twitter or Facebook. Let's connect!

Advertising Plan to Support This Site

2012-02-09T10:05:00.000-06:00

Below is a list of advertisers who have paid a fee to have their web site listed for six or 12 months. We appreciate this support because it helps us continue to do the work we do. If you'd like to be included email tutormentor2@earthlink.net

Visit this link to learn more about advertising opportunities on this blog and four other blogs and web sites hosted by Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC.

Health & Wellness
Meet Charles Brooks, a long-term friend of the Tutor/Mentor Connection and Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC and read about his wellness journey to good health. Join Wellness Talks on Blog Talk Radio. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/trivitawellness . Join Friends of Nopalea on Facebook.

Note: we are testing this concept. Advertisers will be added as they apply.

Potential of Mapping and Visualization

2012-01-14T12:11:00.004-06:00

In this video Manuel Lima, senior UX design lead at Microsoft Bing, explores the power of network visualization to help navigate our complex modern world.

As you watch this I encourage you to look at the concept maps I've created to map knowledge and networks. If we can create a visualization that works like a "blueprint" to show steps needed to help kids from birth to work, and the network of supports needed at each age level, our networking with people throughout the world can fill each node in our map/library with people, organizations and ideas related to that specific node.

Thus we can provide more ideas for each group of people working on this same long-term goal of helping kids in more places get the support they need to move from a birth in poverty to a life out of poverty.

How can we connect with people at Microsoft, Google or other information innovation organizations who will add us to their team and/or provide us with the talent, dollars and technology to build out this project?

This week I'm part of JELLY WEEK 2012, where I'm connecting with people from all over the world who are thinking about similar ideas.

Maps communicate information in unique ways

2011-12-12T13:28:00.004-06:00

This map shows broadband availability in the United States. Availability is defined as at least 3 mbps download and 768 kbps upload speeds. This is from a Broadband Availability web site. When you live in a big city like Chicago you tend to take broadband access for granted. This map show that many places in America don't have such luxury.

This is just one more example of how mapping data can help make it easier to connect people from different places with a common understanding of a problem that affects people all over the country.

At the Tutor/Mentor Blog my article of 12/12/11 includes a map showing drop out high schools in Illinois. We need significantly more resources to map this information in all the ways we want, and to create the advertising and public awareness needed to get millions of people looking at this information.

Can you help? Click here to see how you can help.

Building Partnership with other countries - Jellyweek

2011-11-30T18:16:00.002-06:00

I've been connecting with a group of social entrepreneurs from around the world in a Facebook group. Their aiming to build a project during Jellweek2012, which will be January 16-22, 2012. The map below shows project locations around the world and is another demonstration of how mapping can be used to connect people and create understanding.

View WORLDWIDE #JELLYWEEK /// January 16 to 22 2012 in a larger map

While I've been contributing ideas to the group on Facebook I've also been reaching out to mentoring networks around the country as well as my peers in Chicago because January is National Mentoring Month. A map like this could be a platform for people from different places to show where they participated in a tutor/mentor program. It could also be a tool that existing programs could use to show where they operate.

To learn more about Jellyweek, click here.

Building Partnership with other cities

2011-11-26T09:55:00.005-06:00

This map shows high schools with high drop out rates in Sacramento, CA. It comes from this web site.

We've been creating maps of poverty and poorly performing schools in Chicago since 1993 as part of a 4-part strategy aimed at helping volunteer-based, mentor-rich, non-school youth programs grow in high poverty neighborhoods. This Tutor/Mentor Connection web site was built by the technology department of IUPUI in Indianapolis, as part of an effort to help the T/MC strategy grow in that city.

As we look to the next five years we've created the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC to support the growth of the T/MC and our mapping project in Chicago. However, our goal is to build partnerships with non-profits, businesses and universities in other cities, that enable us to share our ideas and technology as part of organizations led by leaders in these cities. Such partnerships provide local ownership and funding to support local actions, but provide revenue and fees to the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC to support what we do in Chicago and the way we manage this web library and share it at no-cost to others around the world.

If you can help develop this strategy please review the planning wiki and contact Dan Bassill via Linked in, Twitter, Facebook, or Skype.

More ideas for mapping and using GIS

2011-11-10T11:40:00.002-06:00

This is an article showing Digital Mapping approaches that appeared on the Georgetown Commons.

If we can attract the attention of universities and companies already committed to mapping perhaps we can find partners, volunteers and investors to build our own mapping capacity and role it out to cities all over the world.

Can you help?

Making Maps Guide

2011-11-06T09:46:00.003-06:00

I hosted a 38th Tutor/Mentor Leadership & Networking Conference in Chicago this week. As with every conference I showcased some of the maps that Tutor/Mentor Connection created in past years. This image shows the home page of a Map Gallery that Mike Trakan created to shows maps he created from 2008 through March 2011 while we had the money to have him as part of the T/MC paid staff.

This PDF shows how Chicago area volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring programs can add or update their information in the Program Locator.

This PDF shows how youth and volunteers, or development officers in non profits, can create their own maps and embed them in blogs or grant requests.

This PDF describes how youth interns and volunteers can use maps to build greater public attention and more consistent support for tutor/mentor programs.

Maps and What's Possible

2011-10-05T09:22:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago the Social Edge forum hosted a discussion titled "Maps and What's Possible" featuring the Tutor/Mentor Connection's uses of maps. That's not the first time our use of maps have received attention.
This is the front page of a 1999 story in the URISA Newsletter (see pdf).

In 2004 our use of maps was nominated for a Global Innovation Award, as described in this pdf.

In 1995 our strategy was described as a "Master plan for saving youth" in this Chicago Tribune article.

Our mapping strategy is outlined in this wiki and I'm looking for partners, volunteers, investors and benefactors to help us develop this strategy so it can be applied in big cities all over the world, as well as in other social benefit sectors.

Can you help us find these resources?

SunTimes series focuses on neighborhood of NBA Star

2011-10-03T09:10:00.005-05:00

For the past week feature articles in the Chicago SunTimes have focused on the gangs and violence in the Englewood area of Chicago, near where Chicago Bulls Star Derrick Rose grew up. This was one article.

In the Tutor/Mentor Blog I used this same map, and pointed to a parallel story from Maywood, where a teen was killed while sleeping as a result of a run-away car that crashed into her home. The drive of that car had been shot.

In another set of articles I've been writing about sports and teamwork and showing how athletes could be "coaching" fans to support the growth of a wide range of youth serving organizations in different neighborhoods of Chicago and other cities.

The map at the right is one that was signed by nearly a dozen high profile athletes almost 15 years ago, showing their interest in an "adopt a neighborhood" concept that I have been trying to build support for. I'd like to find a sports writer who would want to champion this and other Tutor/Mentor Institute ideas. I can't carry this ball all by myself.

I also can't continue to host this map-resource without finding a sponsor/partner or benefactor to provide at least $50k a year to staff the project and support the continued upgrade of the technology and the data. Just one NBA or NFL star who wants to have a career beyond playing days is all this needs to become a beacon of hope for youth throughout every NBA city.

If you're interested why not come to the Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference in Chicago on Friday, Nov. 4. See details at http://www.tutormentorconference.org

Mapping since 1994

2011-09-24T12:42:00.002-05:00

This story appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times in 1994 when I was first launching the Tutor/Mentor Connection. It's one of many stories that have been written since then. See an archive on the Tutor/Mentor Institute web site.

Here's a couple of places where the mapping strategies have been described.

Story of Tutor/Mentor Connection – MapTogether

Social Edge Maps and What's Possible, June-July 2009

Many of the media stories were the result of the conferences I've hosted every six months since 1994. The next is November 4 and will be held at the Metcalfe Federal Building. I hope you can attend and I hope you or others will write about this so we can create new stories and new interest and investment in this strategy.

Mapping the ideas around the maps

2011-09-02T16:13:00.002-05:00

This is a map I created today using Debategraph.

This is a way to connect the ideas I share on blogs, and other web sites I manage with a vast world of other people who share concern about the same issues.

Maybe you can find a use for this tool, too.

London Riots - Use of Maps

2011-08-11T09:01:00.006-05:00

For the past few days disaffected youth in London and other UK cities have been rioting. This map shows the correlation between poverty and these incidents.

This is the first interactive poverty map that I've found for London. The map was posted in this blog. Here's the full-size interactive version. This map is created on a platform called MapTube, which is a product of the work undertaken by the Geographic Virtual Urban Environments (GeoVUE) team based at University College London's Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA).

I'm not sure the creators have the same goal for their maps as we do with the maps we have crated at the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC, but I'd like to connect to see if there are ways we might collaborate.

Note: On the Social Edge forum Charles Cameron shared these links that he posted on UK blogs to encourage readers to take a look at the Tutor/Mentor Institute's map strategies.

post on "This is London" article
poston zenpundit.com

Market Research - collecting info

2011-07-26T12:38:00.004-05:00

Since 1993 the Tutor/Mentor Connection has been collecting information about volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in Chicago and its suburbs. Our initial aim is to know what organizations provide these services, who they serve, what age group, what type of tutoring and/or mentoring and where they are located.

In 2004 we created an interactive portal that people can use to search our database. This graphic shows what it looks like.

In 2008 we created an interactive map that would show where these programs are in the region, and show where they are most needed based on high poverty or poorly performing schools. The map below was created using this feature.

Now we're trying to find sponsors and partners who will help us maintain this service and keep it free to users. With help we can upgrade the technology, provide more training, build greater awareness and more use and make this service available to other cities. If you can help join the GIS planning group on the Tutor/Mentor Connection forum.

Interactive World Map - nice!

2011-07-13T16:47:00.002-05:00

We're always inspired to see how others are creating maps to help build better understanding. This map web site is one that I encourage you to browse.

Mapping Actions

2011-06-19T11:46:00.004-05:00

This graphic represents the vision of Dan Bassill and the Tutor/Mentor Connection (T/MC) which began to pilot a use of maps in 1993.

This shows a cycle of collecting information about non-school, volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs operating in the Chicago region, and using maps to show where these programs are most needed, based on poverty, poorly performing schools, violence, etc. The strategy is based on what big companies like Sears, WalMart, Bank of America, etc do to support thousands of branch locations with central organizing, planning and advertising strategies.

The T/MC wants to help high-quality, constantly improving tutor/mentor programs reach kids in high poverty neighborhoods of Chicago and other urban areas in the USA and the world.

We have never had enough resources to do this so the graphic on the chart shows some actions that we do, but not with enough impact, and some actions that we will do when we find investors and partners to help us. We outline the GIS strategy on this WIKI along with other complementary strategies that make our use of maps unique.

If you want to help implement this strategy in Chicago, or in your own city, please email tutormentor2@earthlink.net and offer your time, talent and/or dollars. We cannot do as much working alone as we can with the help of others who might benefit from what we're trying to do.

Process Maps and more

2011-05-26T11:32:00.006-05:00

The Tutor/Mentor Connection seeks to use more forms of visualization than just geographic maps. This map shows participation in a Tutor/Mentor Connection conference. It is one of several conference Social Network Analysis (SNA) maps that you can see here.

These I-Open process maps provided by Betsey Merkel are very good.

Here are maps showing the process of ...culture building, one aspect of the I-Open Civic Forum Process

Here are maps showing a timeline and repeating activities

View the various slides and you'll see many examples of applying social network analysis to understand how groups are forming around common purpose. We have been doing this for 18 years but don't have the capacity to demonstrate this yet due to lack of funding. We do have donated software that interns have been trying to learn. You can follow our progress in this forum.

The maps Bestsy has created demonstrate what the Tutor/Mentor Connection would be doing if it had the philanthropic support needed. We'd go a step further and apply these concept maps to the process of building volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs in all poverty areas of the Chicago region and helping more k-12 youth finish school prepared for 21st century jobs and careers.

Can you help us find that support?

Rosland raises $2 million for Promise Neighborhood

2011-05-18T12:02:00.007-05:00

I read an article in Catalyst Notebook today about the Roseland Children's Promise Zone, a project that will coordinate educational and social services for young people in the far South Side community.

This is one of the maps we've created in the past, showing the Roseland neighborhood, and showing how leaders such as the Rev. James Meeks, could be supporting the growth of youth serving organizations in the area.

I hope the group leading this effort has found and used these maps. We've not had any contact from them, so don't know if they are planning to incorporate maps and marketing into their efforts to build a distribution of k-12 support programs and services in the area.

We'd be available to help if someone can help us raise the money to keep this service available to Chicago.

We're hosting a Tutor/Mentor Conference on May 19 and 20, 2011 in Matteson, Il. We've tried to spread the word to people in Roseland and other neighborhoods that need Promise Zone strategies. So far we're just too small a voice to be heard.

Spread the word if you want to help.