In 2016, Human Services Council (HSC), announced a grant competition, in partnership with Measure of America with funding provided by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, for our members to use data to address challenges in New York’s communities. HSC awarded grants of $10,000 to member organizations to create data-based portraits that would illuminate important issues in their neighborhood or field using indicators from DATA2GO.NYC, a free, online data mapping and visualization tool with 350 indicators of human need and well-being.The aim of this project was to help illuminate some of the questions around wellbeing and health in New York’s communities; understand the kinds of data important to human services organizations; and support human services nonprofits to learn about and better utilize data to assess need and advocate for data and evidence-based policymaking that improves human wellbeing.
These portraits took a variety of forms limited only by the creativity of participants: a fact sheet, photo series, infographic, map, report, video, or other innovative ways to highlight, explore, or offer solutions to local problems.
These portraits will inform Measure of America’s forthcoming publication, “A Portrait of
New York City,” to be released fall 2017, which will feature data-based policy
recommendations for addressing the most pressing human needs in the city.
