New Esri Racial Equity Website and GIS Resource Hub

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06-23-2020 05:15 AM
MargotBordne
Esri Contributor
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In many ways, geography has become a tool for gaining a greater understanding of inequities, but it has also been the means to draw boundaries that keep communities segregated. Specifically, there is a long history of place-based social exclusion manifested in redlining practices, creating patterns in cities that continue today. The charge now is to address racial disparities and the underlying inequities that cause them. Like many businesses, Esri recognizes that this moment provides an opportunity to impact progress directly. Esri’s new racial equity team supports the application of GIS to address racism and social inequities.

"Esri employees and I want to express our support for the Black community during these difficult times and reinforce our commitment to help our users in their efforts to use GIS to bring about positive change. This is clearly a time when we as GIS professionals can use our special talents and tools to help communities better understand, communicate, and be engaged – all necessary for meaningful action." - Jack Dangermond, Esri CEO

Esri's Racial Equity site is now live: Racial Equity | GIS Tools to Address Racial Inequities. This new website tells the story of how location intelligence can be used to address racial inequities by Engaging Communities, Mapping and Analyzing Inequities, Operationalizing Best Practices, Managing Performance, and more.

There, you’ll also find the new Racial Equity GIS Hub with links to data layers, user examples, training, solutions, and other resources to help in your work towards racial justice. This will be updated regularly so check back often for new resources and content.

On the Hub you will also find additional resources to build skills and get started such as Learn Lessons focused around key racial equity workflows. 

You can also find guidance on best practices as well as inspiring stories about organizations in the U.S. and around the world who are using location intelligence to advance racial equity & social justice in their communities. 

Many of you in this space have already been leveraging GIS to address racial equities in your communities, and the weight and importance of this work is not new to you. We encourage you to continue to share your successes and challenges here, and take advantage of this new and continually-evolving Racial Equity GIS Resource Hub to enable and enhance your work. 

Finally, remember to check back often for updates as new data, trainings, stories, apps, maps, and solutions will be added regularly!

Sincerely,

Margot & Clinton

About the Author
Margot Bordne is an Account Manager on Esri's Global Business Development team. Margot supports organizations across industries who leverage GIS to improve their operations and decision making capabilities, with a focus on the use of GIS for advancing equity and social justice. Margot also founded and leads Esri's Women's Enablement & Career Advancement Network (WeCan) and is currently working toward a Master's Degree in Diversity & Inclusion Leadership at Tufts University.