Monday, January 05, 2009

Information visualization - use of maps

If you've visited this blog more than a few times, you've seen me use maps to illustrate where tutor/mentor programs are needed, and where volunteers, donors, leaders and business partners are needed to support long-term connections of programs and volunteers with youth.

Here's an interesting article on information visualization that illustrates uses of maps and other visual tools to communicate ideas.

If you work in this area and would like to add your talent to the mission of the Tutor/Mentor Connection please contact us. You do not need to be in Chicago to contribute your time and talent to this work.

2 comments:

Patrick Barry said...

Absolutely right that maps can pack a punch, as Sen. Dick Durbin pointed out when he recently presented a map with red dots showing a "cancer" of foreclosures in Chicago neighborhoods. The map was created by David McDowell of the Southwest Organizing Project and has gotten a lot of play. See the map here: http://www.newcommunities.org/news/articleDetail.asp?objectID=1308

Tutor Mentor Connections said...

Patrick, that's a great map. However, I think the solution needs to go beyond mortgage relief to focus on jobs and job creation so people can pay their mortgage. We need to get the business community and private sector involved. I look forward to working with you guys to mobilize attention and resources.