What is the Equity Index?
The equity index is similar to opportunity mapping and highlights success and obstacles connected to upward mobility. The Index consist of 20 indicators within the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Goals: Accessibility Education, Economy, and Livability.
Why did the City create an Equity Index?
The City of Tacoma’s Office of Equity and Human Rights (OEHR) was created in October 2014. The purpose of OEHR is to support the organization as we carry out the goals of the City’s Equity and Empowerment framework, which was also proposed and unanimously adopted by the City Council that year.
While conducting public outreach for the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan, staff and consultants identified four major themes that were consistently brought up in discussions with community members: Equity, Opportunity, Partnerships, Accountability
More specifically, community members have indicated a strong desire to see “equity and racial justice”, race and social equity analysis of public programs, and support for new immigrants. This charged helped establish the goals and analysis to create the Equity Index.
How did the City create the Equity Index?
Working with Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute of Race and Social Justice, the City complied the Equity Index to help facilitate data-driven decision-making processes to enable leaders to better distribute resources and plan funding of programs and services to minimize inequities and maximize opportunities.
The indicators displayed in the Equity Index have been shown to have a direct correlation to equity. For more information, please reference the additional document on the evidence based research determinant categories. The information is measured granularly by census block group.
Accessibility:
- Average Road Quality
- Internet Access
- Parks & Open Spaces
- Transit Options & Access
- Voter Participation
Education:
- 4 Year High School Graduation Rate
- 25 Age+ with Bachelors' Degree or More
- Average Test Proficiency
- Average Student Retention Rate
Economy:
- Households at 200% of the Poverty Line or Less
- Median Household Income
- Tacoma Jobs
- Unemployment Rate
Livability:
- Cost Burden
- Tacoma Crime Index
- Tacoma Nuisance Index
- Urban Tree Canopy
What does Very High or Very Low Equity mean?
Very High Equity represents locations that have access to better opportunity to succeed and excel in life. The data indicators would include high performing schools, a safe environment, access to adequate transportation, safe neighborhoods, and sustainable employment. In contrast, Low Equity areas have more obstacles and barriers within the area. These communities have limited access to institutional or societal investments with limit their quality of life.
Why is the North and West End labeled Red?
When looking at data related to equity and social justice, we want to be mindful to not reinforce historical representations of low income or communities of color as bad or negative. To help visualize the areas of high opportunity and call out the need for more equity we chose to use red and flipped the gradient to highlight disparities within the community. In addition, we refrained from using green or positive colors with referring to dominant communities (white communities).
Can I add more data and indicators to the Equity Index?
Yes, by downloading the file and uploading it to ArcGIS you can add data and indicators to the Index, and you can import the shape files into your own data base. The indicators and standard deviations are available on ArcGIS online.
Can I see additional or multiple map layers?
Within the left navigation panel, you can aggregate the index layers by social determinate categories; Accessibility, Education, Economy, Livability
How to contact for more information?
Please send all inquiries to Equity@CityofTacoma.org
Loading...
