Equity Atlas Toolkit

This toolkit is intended to support communities in creating equity atlas projects by providing an overview of the equity atlas development process along with sample materials and links to helpful resources.  An equity atlas is a tool that enables us to understand how well different neighborhoods and populations are able to access the resources and opportunities necessary for meeting their basic needs and advancing their health and well-being. By providing a visual depiction of disparities, equity atlases can play a powerful role in guiding policy, planning, and strategic investments to create more equitable communities.

Portland State University contributed to the original Equity Atlas in Portland.  See Meg Merrick's and Sheila Martin's story in Chapter 6 of Strengthening Communities about the difference it made in open space funding.

The toolkit also features the Denver Regional Equity Atlas, which is the product of a partnership between Mile High Connects, Reconnecting America, and the Piton Foundation and was designed to help raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities of a robust public transportation network. The interactive online tool provides users with the ability to create maps of the region’s major transportation routes and destinations in relation to current and future transit networks, and to generate reports on demographic, economic, and other factors for the region and particular communities.