Blog

Aug 30, 2022

Shaye Morrison

The debate around public education funding and student outcomes is longstanding. In this blog, we discuss important background information on where SparkMap’s public education revenue and expenditure data comes from, what it covers, how it is linked to student outcomes over time, and how you can use SparkMap to dive into the link between public education expenditures and outcomes in your community.

Aug 11, 2022

Shaye Morrison

Creating lasting change in your community is only possible when you have an accurate understanding of its strengths and needs. In other words, you need community-level data in order to determine outreach needs, pinpoint service areas, and identify areas in which your community already excels. We believe the best way to do this is through […]

Jul 27, 2022

Shaye Morrison

In this blog, we highlight frequently updated wildfire and drought data layers. Whether or not your community is directly impacted by wildfire season or drought, our climate data can help you stay safe and spur positive community resilience.

Jul 12, 2022

Shaye Morrison

At SparkMap, we’re passionate about impacting communities based on high-quality data. Since you’re here, you probably feel the same way. However, we know that understanding and applying data can be tricky. So, we’re starting a blog series dedicated to the foundations of data literacy. Through this blog series, we hope to empower you by enhancing […]

Jun 22, 2022

Melissa De Bartolomeo

The NCCPI is a robust and valuable dataset – learn more about it and how to access it on SparkMap.

Jun 9, 2022

Jordan Rhodes

In this blog we discuss history of data visualization with a particular focus on the fascinating work of W.E.B. Du Bois.

May 26, 2022

Shaye Morrison

We have updated the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates on SparkMap! Read more about what the ACS is, what exactly has been updated on SparkMap, and how these changes impact you.

Mar 11, 2022

Justin Krohn

Commuting to work has significant impacts on personal health, the environment, and the economy. Learn more with SparkMap data in this blog!

Feb 25, 2022

Shaye Morrison

The US Census Bureau has undergone changes in their demographics questions. Why are these changes needed, how do they demonstrate the changing population of America, and what can we do with this information? Find out in our blog!

Feb 14, 2022

Melissa De Bartolomeo

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. How can we use maps and data to understand where our most at-risk communities are and what interventions may help?

Jan 25, 2022

Jamie Kleinsorge

In this blog series, “Building a Multi-Layer Map” we will explore answers to core map-making questions, unpack some best practices, and highlight how you can use SparkMap to tell a story, rooted in data, about your community. 

Jan 7, 2022

Shaye Morrison

In this blog we take a look back at all that you accomplished in 2021 and preview what’s to come in 2022. Thank you for being part of SparkMap. We can’t wait to see what you create this year!

Dec 9, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

Learn how to use the Select Data tool in the Map Room to see data in context of a specific region or distance from a point. In this example, we’ll look at the data for 501(c)(3)s and (c)(4)s that are within 1 mile of an address.

Nov 24, 2021

Shaye Morrison

Our Community Assessment tool provides those in healthcare, non-profit, and local governments with the data they need to make reports highlighting community needs and areas for improvement. Let’s create a Community Assessment in 6 easy steps!

Nov 10, 2021

Elisa c

People with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop serious cases of COVID-19, including hospitalization, than those who don’t have diabetes. But, how can healthcare providers identify those with diabetes and determine strategies to support them? SparkMap can help!

Oct 28, 2021

Shaye Morrison

Use the Map Room to tell the story of your community in a compelling and visually interesting way. Learn how to add data to a map and explore some basic ways to understand that data.

Oct 7, 2021

Jamie Kleinsorge

Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) have evolved in many ways over the last ten years. We’re excited to share 5 best practices we’ve learned for selecting CHNA data.

Sep 28, 2021

Shaye Morrison

What brought you to SparkMap? Was it our mission to bring you all the data you need, ready to go, all in one place? Was it the 279 indicators you can use to create Community Assessments? Or, perhaps you were interested in using our Map Room to tell the story of your community through some […]

Sep 1, 2021

Justin Krohn

On August 12, the U.S. Census Bureau released the most comprehensive set of data yet from the 2020 census. Demographic data was released at the “census block” level, which is the smallest unit of geography the census defines for public use (see below resource for more information) .

Aug 19, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

As we witness COVID-19 variants sweep through the country, we recognize that data for decision-making is more important now than ever. Learn more about what’s happening in your world with data around COVID-19 Vulnerability, Vaccinations, and Hospitalizations.

Jul 28, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

What are the riskiest disasters that communities should be prepared for and where should resources be allocated? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a new index – the National Risk Index – to help communities mitigate disasters with more specificity.

Jun 28, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

One of our frequently updated datasets, Drought Intensity from the U.S. Drought Monitor, is unfortunately coming into greater use as drought conditions intensify across the United States. Learn more about the dataset and it’s uses.

Jun 10, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

Research, and personal experience for many, has shown the positive relationship between time outdoors and our physical and mental health. Learn how to use the Map Room to access environmental data and make the case for parks in your community.

Jun 1, 2021

Elisa c

In order to maintain positive, long-term mental health outcomes in communities around the nation, organizations and governments need access to up-to-date, reliable, and accurate data to effectively allocate resources, programs, and training opportunities for those who need it most. Read this blog to learn how to use SparkMap tools and resources to build a case for funding.

Apr 29, 2021

mel debartolomeo

With a relatively sudden influx of federal dollars for communities to allocate, it will be crucial for decision makers to use relevant and reliable data to make informed decisions. SparkMap’s data and analysis platform is a crucial resource for helping local governments identify the needs of their communities.

Apr 27, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

For the first time ever, SparkMap is offering ZIP code breakouts for nearly 100 of our indicators. Get data for every ZIP code in your assessment area – view alongside our dynamic data visualizations or download for offline use.

Apr 8, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

Identify Vulnerable Populations with the SparkMap VPF Tool and help change health outcomes in the communities you care about.

Mar 18, 2021

Elisa c

COVID-19 has severely affected the economy, health, and mental well-being of every community around the United States. SparkMap provides real-time data sharing, analysis, and visualization—key strategies for an equitable and speedy recovery. This blog shows how our map and assessment tools are used to understand COVID-19 cases and its consequences.

Feb 25, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

Are you focused on expanding, understanding, or analyzing women’s opportunities in the economic sector, do you want to support the implementation of gender-focus policies in the US or at the local level? Learn about how you can access sex-aggregated data on this week’s blog in honor of Women’s History Month.

Feb 24, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

If you’ve existed in the health space for any period of time, you’ve probably heard of BRFSS data, but what is it, really?

Learn more about the importance of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Feb 23, 2021

Melissa De Bartolomeo

Welcome knowledge-seekers, problem solvers, and changemakers!