Quality of Life Explorer October 7, 2015 Andrew Bowen Neighborhood & Business Services Community Engagement

What is “Quality of Life?”

Community Indicators: Quality of Life Study Character Economics Education Engagement Environment Health Housing Safety Transportation 82 variables 45 sources 9 dimensions Understandable and actionable information Easy to use Multiple ways to explore 1 dashboard

History CWAC neighborhoods Stable, Threatened, Fragile 20 variables Printed document Neighborhood Statistical Areas (NSA) Stable, Transitioning, Challenged 20 variables Static report posted online Neighborhood Profile Areas (NPA) Eliminated Labels 80+ variables Interactive dashboard Open data and open source

Why QoL? Who? Government staff & elected officials Neighborhoods, residents Community organizations Businesses, entrepreneurs Realtors, home seekers Researchers More! How? Learn more about the county and its neighborhoods Inform decisions Develop programs and services Connect to resources to take action Plan for the future Informs planning, program development, policy and resident action

What’s New? New Name Updated Data Enhanced Dashboard Trend information Explore data by custom geographies, e.g.: Corridors Service areas Business Districts Entire jurisdictions Streamlined reports (Digital and hard copy) More context and resources to learn more and take action

What’s New? Create Report Share to Social Trend Chart Data Table Time Slider Select Areas Select Variable Area Comparison Bar Chart & Legend Map Controls

Learn More. Take Action. Create Change. “Data informs the direction of change, it does not drive change.” -Dan Heath

Summary Report Your Neighborhood Your Neighborhood Profile Area(s)

From Indicators to Action “Data by itself does not connect with people. It’s the relevance to them that makes it meaningful and memorable.” -Lou Solomon

Going Forward, Driving Change Outreach and use –Quality of Life “Road Show” –Training and technical assistance –Neighborhood board retreats –Community conversations Tell stories with the data –Add context –Bring awareness –Engage residents to learn more and take action Dynamic resource –Add and update data more regularly

Questions Andrew Bowen Community Research Specialist Neighborhood and Business Services

Examples of Custom Geography Blue Line (South)