Title VI and Equity
In recent years, an increasing number of orgnaizations have begun requiring that their partners or grantees address equity when applying for grants. The following web page presents mapping, data, and links to webpages that provide guidance on how to address equity in community planning for Chester County.
The American Planning Association has addressed equity in planning, writing that equity is "just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Unlocking the promise of the nation by unleashing the promise in us all… Unlike equality, which connotes sameness, equity is responsive to difference; equitable policies actively mitigate the disproportionate harm faced by certain communities. Three cross-cutting issues related to social equity in planning include gentrification, environmental justice, and community engagement and empowerment." An example of how equity is used in planning is found at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Health Equity website.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation created this infographic, Visualizing Heath Equity: One Size Does Not Fit All, to illustrate that "when it comes to expanding opportunities for health, thinking the same approach will work universally is like expecting everyone to be able to ride the same bike."
Visualizing Health Equity: One Size Does Not Fit All Infographic by RWJF
Addressing social equity is not a new concept. In 1964, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act set forth that "no person in the United States, shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." More information on Title VI is available from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
Chester County Socioeconomic Interactive Mapping and Data
View mapping that addresses six key social equity topics (Demographics, Housing, Economy and Employment, Education, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Environment). This mapping can assist local community planners who wish to determine where disadvantaged communities are located, and what sort of conditions exist in these communities. For example, these maps could be used to determine if a disadvantaged community is, or is not, served by a commuter rail station. Such mapping can be useful when applying for grants.
The web pages below present data and links to web pages that address six key social equity topics.
Demographic Data
View information on population trends; racial and ethnic cohorts; age cohorts, children, and seniors; single parent households; and disabled persons.
Housing
View information on income burden for housing, low-income housing, and the age of housing.
Economy and Employment
View information on median income, per capita income, poverty, low-income households.
Education
View information on education levels and English as a second language.
Transportation and Infrastructure
View information on public transportation, households with no car, and households with only one car.
Environment
View information on flooding, heat islands, Superfund and brownfields sites, and access to parks.