The document summarizes a presentation by Jason Reece from the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity on using mapping tools to understand opportunity and life outcomes. It discusses how the Kirwan Institute has conducted opportunity mapping projects for over a dozen states and regions to identify factors like education, housing, employment, and health that influence people's access to opportunities. The presentation provides an example of how the Kirwan Institute mapped communities of opportunity and affordable housing in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It also outlines resources for learning more about opportunity mapping and how it can be used for advocacy and social justice.

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
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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