Map and better understand racial inequity

Organizations and individuals are leveraging the power of GIS to understand racial equity in communities and make more equitable decisions. GIS provides insight into patterns of inequality and can provide common understanding across communities to affect positive change.

Governments

National, regional, and local governments are using GIS to better engage communities and understand the impact of historic and present-day decisions and policies on those communities. Governments use GIS to address inequities and make plans to support equitable communities.

Explore government guidance and tools

Nonprofits

Community groups and nonprofit organizations are using mapping and spatial analysis tools to clearly identify issues of racial equity, share their organization’s mission and activities, and communicate the status and progress of their equity initiatives.

Businesses

Businesses are using the power of location and GIS to apply a racial equity lens in their decision-making. GIS helps businesses better understand the communities they operate in and when, where, and how they can contribute to more equitable community outcomes.

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GIS supports racial equity and social justice initiatives

Discover how GIS solutions foster greater understanding and empower equitable action.

 

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Engage communities and partners

Community engagement, outreach, and collaboration are critical to bringing communities together around issues of racial equity and social justice. Communities and their partner organizations shape the maps that tell their story. GIS makes maps easier to create and share, establishing a common understanding to take appropriate action.

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Map and analyze inequities to gain insights

Visualizing the locations of marginalized populations, barriers to equality, and patterns of inequitable action in a GIS solution reveals the far-reaching impacts of policies and practices. Leveraging maps and the results of analyses empowers organizations and communities to create actionable plans and model impacts of positive change.

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Operationalize racial equity best practices

Design and plan the equitable allocation and distribution of resources to alleviate burdens on disadvantaged communities. Enhance the delivery of services by using maps and spatial analysis. Collect the right location, demographic, and operational data needed to support racial equity.

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Track and measure the impact of actions

Manage and analyze the performance of initiatives, services, and related data to understand and measure their impact. Use maps and dashboards to recognize opportunities to increase equity in your community.

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Resources

Racial Equity GIS Hub
Visit the Racial Equity GIS Hub to find relevant data layers, user examples, training, solutions, and other resources to help in your work for racial equity.
Visit the racial equity hub
Racial Equity Community Outreach solution
Local governments can use this solution to communicate progress on racial equity initiatives to the general public and other stakeholders.
Explore the solution
Police Transparency solution
The Police Transparency solution can be used to share information and communicate engagement efforts that build trust with the general public and community stakeholders.
Go to the article
Apply the racial equity workflow using ArcGIS
Discover how ArcGIS can play a significant role in helping organizations achieve racial equity by applying the racial equity workflow.
Go to the web course

Stories of GIS for equity and social justice

Learn how others are already using GIS and mapping with a racial equity lens to advance social justice.

User story

Tacoma addresses affordable housing using GIS

The city of Tacoma, Washington, used a geospatial approach in their strategic planning process to address inadequate housing supply and increase housing affordability for their community.

Explore the user story

Industry blog

Nonprofit Technology Conference 2021 and GIS

Explore highlights from the Nonprofit Technology Conference to see how mapping, location data, and analytics are used to address racial equality and social justice and support food security.

Explore the highlights

Esri Blog

Territorial Empathy Maps Racial Inequality to Take Action

Territorial Empathy applies location intelligence to identify outcomes linked to racial inequality in order to solve crises and create empathy.

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Podcast

Supporting Water Justice for Indigenous People

Dr. Kelsey Leonard, assistant professor at the University of Waterloo and citizen of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, explains how the combination of technology and tradition helps safeguard water rights for indigenous communities.

Go to the podcast

ArcGIS StoryMaps

GIS for Racial Equity & Justice

Location intelligence can help build a more equitable world. Learn how mapping and GIS can provide insight into patterns of inequality and bring communities together around a common understanding to drive change.

Explore the story

ArcNews

Putting Indigenous Place-Names and Languages Back on Maps

Existing GIS ecosystems need to be designed in ways that support Indigenous data sovereignty and visibility—for the benefit of all.

Explore the article

Podcast

Racial Equity: How Technology Can Accelerate Social Justice

Darlene Flynn, community activist and Director of the Department of Race and Equity in Oakland, California, discusses how technology is being used to dismantle racial inequity across organizations.

Go to the podcast

PODCAST

Digital Transformation at One of the World’s Oldest NGOs: YMCA

Maria-Alicia Serrano, senior director of research, analytics and insights for YMCA, explains the power of data and visualization to match programs and services to member needs. Learn how the Y relies on sophisticated mapping and analysis to strategically improve communities.

Go to the podcast
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Esri Community

Join others in the GIS for Equity and Social Justice community to connect, collaborate, and share best practices on these topics. Ask questions or share your expertise.

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Get GIS help from Esri to address inequity

For urgent GIS help responding to racial inequity, request support from Esri's Disaster Response Program.

Request response assistance

Esri Nonprofit Organization Program

The nonprofit program provides access to the tools you need to bring location intelligence to your organization.

Request help for nonprofits

Contact us to get started