The document provides an overview of a webinar on making maps for research and advocacy using HealthyCity.org. The webinar teaches participants how maps can be used for community organizing, advocacy, program planning, and grant writing. It covers types of maps, data sources, and best practices for effective map design and analysis. The webinar aims to equip community groups with mapping skills to conduct action-oriented research and social change efforts.

1. Information + action for social change
Map Making 101
Making Maps for Research and Advocacy
with HealthyCity.org
Lori Thompson
Manager, Online & Digital Initiatives
lthompson@advanceproj.org
Taisha Bonilla
Training & Communications
Coordinator
tbonilla@advanceproj.org

2. How to Participate Today
•
Open and close your Panel
•
View, Select, and Test your audio
•
Type in a question at ANY time during
the webinar. We will pause
throughout to respond
•
Everyone will receive an email within
24 hours with additional help tools
and a link to a survey. Please fill out
the survey with your feedback from
this session

3. Healthy City is a program of
Advancement Project is a public policy change organization rooted in the
civil rights movement. We engineer large-scale systems change to remedy
inequality, expand opportunity and open paths to upward mobility. Our goal
is that members of all communities have the safety, opportunity and health
they need to thrive.

4. Mission
Healthy City transforms how decisions are made by creating
innovative tools and methods that expose and resolve structural
inequities
Strengthen community voice and
action
Purpose
Communities of every race and class underserved
Increase resources inhave the opportunities and
resources they need to thrive
communities of color
Values
Advance equitable public polices.
Equity
Community
Transformation

5. Who Uses
HealthyCity.org?
Case
Manager
Service
Provider
Grant
Writer
Funder
HealthyCity.org
Website
Policy
Advocate
Community
Organizer
Researcher
Fuel social change and empower communities!

6. What We Do
ONLINE MAPPING TECHNOLOGY
www.HealthyCity.org
DIRECT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE:
Work ON-THE-GROUND to
develop targeted
research/policy strategies
and web tools.
COMMUNITY RESEARCH
LAB
Engages, trains, and
provides tools for
community groups to lead
and sustain action-oriented
research

7. Today you will learn…
1. How maps are being used for research and
advocacy
2. Considerations and best tips for creating
effective maps
3. Key elements of map design and explore
different mapping methods

8. How have you used
maps research and
advocacy?
2:24 – 4:14

9. Map-Based Research

10. Why are maps important in research?
1. Help reveal larger place-based dynamics
(that numbers by themselves cannot)
2. Support strategy through communicating
patterns to a broad
audience, clearly, quickly, and dramatically
3. Connect community knowledge and data to
location
AT BOX: What are some other ways maps might be important in resear

11. How Can Mapping Inform
Community Work and Strategies?
Organizations can use maps to:
• Act on an issue
• Strategy: Community Organizing
• Strategy: Advocacy
• Program planning
• Strategy: Grant Writing
• Strategy: Outreach and Engagement

12. Strategy: Community
Organizing
Base-building and Mapping Community Surveys– Los Angeles, CA

13. Strategy: Advocacy
Public Awareness on Distribution of Healthy/ Unhealthy Food Resources – Los Angeles, CA

14. Strategy: Program Planning
Health Insurance Access– California

15. Strategy: Grant Writing
Koreatown and City of Los Angeles Park Space
People
Area (sq mi)
People per square mile
Open Space (acres)
People per Open Space acre
African American or Black
Asian or Pacific Islander
Hispanic
White
Other
Median Household Income ($)
Families in Poverty
Koreatown City of Los Angeles
161,732
3,944,951
3.79
480.63
42,673.35
8,207.88
21.40
46,264.15
7,557.57
85.27
4%
9%
31%
11%
58%
50%
6%
27%
2%
3%
29,387.98
55,589.59
30%
19%
Koreatown defined here as U.S. Census Block Groups whose centers are
bounded by Beverly Blvd to the North, S Hoover Street to the East, W Pico
Blvd to the South, and S Wilton Place to the West. Population, Ethnicity/Race,
Median Household Income , and Families in Poverty data from Nielsen
Claritas, Inc. 2009. Park/Open Space data from the California Protected Area
Database v. 1.3. Area calculations performed with NAVTEQ 2009 shapefiles.
Funding for Parks – Los Angeles, CA

16. Map-Based
Research
Questions?
ease enter your questions in the chat b

17. Map Design

18. Map Design
What do the following have in common?
• Cities, zip codes, census tracts, other geographies
• Streets, Freeways, other physical features
• Labels
• Legend
• Mile Bar and North arrow
• Descriptive Text
THINGS YOU SEE ON A MAP!!

19. Maps 101: What You See on a Map
• Titles &
Descriptive Text
• Legend
•Zoom options
•Geographies
• Physical Features
• Labels
• Source information

20. Four Keys to Creating
Effective Maps
• Map Design
• Map Layout
• Map Publishing
• Map Analysis

21. Creating Effective Maps
Effective maps provide visuals that
are:
• Relevant
• Easy to understand
• Dramatic

22. So you want to make a map!?
Some guiding key considerations…
What: What is your research question?
What is the story you want to tell, the question you want to answer, or
the issue you want to address?
Who: Who is your audience?
Community members? City officials?
When: Are you looking at an ongoing problem or one point in time?
Do you need a map with current or existing data?
How: How will you present this?
Report? Website? Community meeting? Public Hearing? Social Media?
Why: Why should the people you will present this to care?
Does your map inspire action?

23. Map Making 101: An example
Break your design into segments
to make it organized and manageable
For example:
You work with a neighborhood coalition in Compton. Many of
the coalition members are retired, long-time homeowners in
the city. A measure on the upcoming local ballot proposes to
benefit the community, but will significantly increase water
costs for many of your members.
They want to raise awareness through door knocking and
talking to other homeowners throughout the city on this
measure that might greatly impact them.

24. Map Making 101: An example
Research Questions:
•Where do most homeowners in the City of Compton live?
•Where are the registered voters?
•Where should we target outreach?
•What outreach has already been done?

25. Map Making 101: An example
Data Needed:
• Owner-Occupied Housing Units
• Registered voters
Feasibility:
• Data available publically available [on HealthyCity.org]

26. Map Making 101: An example:
Break your design into segments to
make it organized and manageable!
For example:
Data: Point: Services: Organizational/Community Services:
Political Organization, Participation, Legislative District
Data: Demographic: Population Characteristics
•Layer 1: Owner-Occupied Housing
Data: Customized Data: Polling sites (XLS), Outreach events
(XLS)
Data: Media: Photos of Voter registration, outreach

27. Let’s Design some
Maps!

28. Maps 101: Types of Maps on HealthyCity.org
Point Maps
Thematic Maps

29. Maps 101: Types of Maps on HealthyCity.org
Wikimaps

30. English | Español

32. Types of Geographies on
HealthyCity.org
Types of Geographies Available on HC.org
Address/Intersection
Consolidated Precinct
Census block group
Census Tract
ZIP Code
City
Assembly District
Senate District
Congressional District
County
Region
Place Based Initiatives (including The California Endowment Building
Healthy Communities and First 5 Los Angeles Best Start Communities)
Los Angeles (and other Counties) Area Boundaries (including Service
Planning Areas, L.A. County Health Districts, and LAUSD School
Attendance Boundaries, Board of Supervisors, City Council)

33. Snapshot of types of Services and
Point Data available on
Data Name HealthyCity.org Source
Social Services
211s
Public & Private Schools
California Department of Education
WIC Agencies & Vendors
Network for a Healthy California
Hospitals (OSHPD)
OSHPD
Head Start Agencies
California Head Start Association
Child Care
Alcohol Outlet
Air Quality Data
Department of Social Services Community
Care Licensing Division
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Health Resources and Services
Administration
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Environmental Protection Agency
Grocery Stores
Banks
Check-Cashing Businesses
DeLorme
DeLorme
DeLorme
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
•Over 2,500 variables!
•Multiple years & levels available!

34. Map Making 101: Mapping
Methods on HealthyCity.org
(Live!)
1. Point Map
2. Thematic Map
3. Point and Thematic Map
4. Customized Wikimap

35. Maps 101: Mapping Method #1
Interactive demo: Creating a “Point”
or “Thematic” Map on HealthyCity.org
1. Geography
2. Service Type
3. Demographic or other theme
Please enter your suggestions in the chat box

36. Maps 101: Mapping Methods #2
&3
Interactive demo: Creating a “Point”
and “Thematic” Map on
HealthyCity.org
1. Geography
2. Service Type
3. Demographic or other theme
Please enter your suggestions in the chat box

37. Wikimaps!
A collaborative mapping tool
on HealthyCity.org that you
can use to share and add
community
knowledge, points, photos, a
nd videos.
Participatory Asset Mapping Toolkit, Pg. 22
With Wikimaps, you can:
•Share with others to add
points, data, and media.
•Create a story to share
•Print and share on
Facebook and Twitter!

38. Maps 101: Mapping Method #4
Interactive demo: Creating a Wikimap on HealthyCity.org
1.
Start with w/ a scenario: You are a Community-Based
Organization soliciting feedback from community
members, collecting data to upload onto a map that will be shared
with public officials, foundations and decision-makers. For
example: A community walk project where youth can upload
photos and descriptions of their routes to school and document
where they walk, play, and identify where there are unsafe
areas, built environment that needs to be fixed/cleaned, etc.
2.
Title & Description of Map
3.
Fields for data collection
4.
Point to drop or File to upload
5.
Name of place, description and any media

50. Map Making 101: Best tips!
When mapping Thematic data, do not use more than 5
“classes”. The human eye cannot recognize that many
colors at one time!
Use caution when you select your map color scheme.
Certain colors mean specific things in cartography. Dark
blue usually indicates water, vivid green tends to
indicate trees and or green space. Bright red indicates
danger and carries a negative connotation.

51. Map Making 101: Best tips!
Never use white/blank as a color for your data
classifications. The only time white should be used is
when you are indicating that there is “no data” or a “null
value” for that area.
Make sure to have all basic map elements present on
your map: Legend, North arrow, title, scale and data
year/source!

52. Map Design
Questions?

53. Map Analysis

54. Map Analysis
What to look for in your analysis:
1. Basic Information
•
What basic information does this map provide?
2. Patterns
•
•
•
Is the data evenly distributed or concentrated in specific areas?
Are there any clear patterns, any highs or lows?
Why do you think these patterns occur?
3. Answers
•
How does this map help address your research question(s)?
4. Strategy
•
•
How will this map guide your strategy?
What information does the map not provide that you might need to
investigate further for your strategy?

55. Map Analysis
According to the
2010 Census,
approximately
87,534
Hispanic/Latino
families are living
below the poverty
level in the city of
Los Angeles

56. Map Analysis
According 2010 Census data, approximately 871,075 Hispanic/Latino families are living below the
poverty level in ZIP 90026
Most of the
families
living in
poverty live
in this area

57. Map Analysis
Questions?

58. Map Publishing

60. Quick Review: Map Making 101
1. Map-based research: How maps are being
used for research and advocacy
2. How to make maps on HealthyCity.org: Point,
Thematic and Wikimaps
3. Keys to effective map making: Design,
Analysis and Publishing
Video: 2:22

61. Workshop Series Overview
Workshop #1: Research and Data Revealed: An
Introduction to Community Research
Workshop #2: Community Assets on a Map: Facilitating
a Community-Engaged Mapping Activity
Workshop #3: Visualizing Your Community: Creating
Maps That Tell Your Community’s Story
Workshop #4: Hyperlocal Communication: Sharing Your
Maps and Research
Workshop #5: From Research to Action!

62. The Community Research Lab Workshop
Series workshops total spanning 2.5 days
•Five
–FREE!
–Capacity for 30 people per workshop session
–Loads of resources and materials
–Bring your own laptop/tablet!
•2 workshops a day, with an hour lunch break:
–Day One: Workshop #1 9:00am-12:00pm & Workshop #2 1:00pm-4:00pm
–Day Two: Workshop #3 9:00am-12:00pm & Workshop #4 1:00pm-4:00pm
–Day Three: Workshop #5 9:00am-12:00pm
•Dates and Regions:
–Riverside: February 10th – 12th APPLY NOW!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014_INLANDEMPIRE
–Fresno/Central Valley: March 4th-6th APPLY NOW!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014_CENTRALVALLEY
Workshop Regions for Fall 2014: San Diego, Orange County and Central
Coast!

63. The Community Research Lab Workshop
Series
One Workshop in Los Angeles
One day only!
Wednesday, March 19th 9:30am-2:00pm
•Workshop #4 Hyperlocal Communications
–FREE!
–Capacity for 30 people per workshop session
–Loads of resources and materials
–Bring your own laptop/tablet!
APPLY NOW! https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LA_0314
Workshop Regions for Fall 2014: San Diego, Orange County and Central
Coast!

64. Maps 101:
Complete!
Questions?

65. Contact us!
Learn more about our
data
sources, research
and events

66. Upcoming
Events
Community Research Lab
Workshop Series:
1. Riverside: February 10th – 12th
2. Fresno: March 4th – 6th
3. Los Angeles (one workshop
only!)
Wednesday, March 19th
9:30am- 2:00pm
Webinar:
Wednesday, February 26th, 2014
10:00am-11:00am
Using HealthyCity.org for Service
Referral & Program Planning
Register now:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/regis
ter/121893802

67. Thank You!
Your feedback is very
important to us! Coordinator
Training & Communications
We will be following up with
www.Healthycity.org
you in 24 hours with www.AdvancementProjectCA.org
an
Facebook.com/HealthyCityCA
Facebook.com/AdvancementProjectCA
@HealthyCityCA
email and a survey!
info@advanceproj.org
info@healthycity.org
Lori Thompson
Manager, Online & Digital Initiatives
lthompson@advanceproj.org
Taisha Bonilla
Training & Communications
Coordinator
tbonilla@advanceproj.org