To advance equity and justice for all, we must begin with an understanding of the differences people experience because of where they are born, grow, work, and age. These differences affect an individual’s quality of life because where a person lives determines their access to education, employment, health services, housing, transportation, and community-based resources.
The Westchester Index is a free online tool that allows users to find data on a variety of factors affecting our local communities. The Index includes 65 socioeconomic indicators and was developed to help our community identify areas where needs are greatest. Importantly, the Index is the only source that brings together multiple sources of information and shows trends over time in the lives of Westchester’s residents.
Launched in 2022, the Westchester Index is now adding a series of “data stories” to explain the statistics and provide a fuller picture of trends. Each story focuses on one theme–such as affordable housing or childhood poverty–and is designed to illustrate community issues, spotlight racial and ethnic disparities, and provide clear analysis. Our intent is that the stories will provide a rich picture of the complex relationships across indicators. For instance, in the City of Peekskill where there is a high percentage of housing cost burdened families, there are also lower levels of educational performance and higher levels of youth disengagement. We see the inverse in the Village of Mamaroneck, where housing is relatively more affordable for residents and there are positive educational performance and youth engagement trends.
Accurate and disaggregated data can inform action and change. Data invites us to ask questions that matter to the impact of philanthropy: Are we making progress on affordable housing? Are fewer children living in poverty? Are our older adults more secure? When we track the arc of people’s lives closely and learn what obstacles stand in their way, we can work together to identify promising approaches to these problems.
We welcome your feedback and questions on the Westchester Index and the data stories. Visit the Westchester Index at www.westchesterindex.org. Please contact Lauren Perkins, program officer: lperkins@wcf-ny.org