Rochester Beacon ‘Community’ article

On Wednesday, July 31st, Managing Editor Smriti Jacob of Rochester Beacon posted an article about ACT Rochester, titled “ACT Rochester puts data, rigorous research at the forefront”. It provides insight into ACT Rochester strategy and vision, as well as a personal touch from our conversation. 

This is my favorite quote from the article: “I made so many decisions about where I went to undergrad and what I wanted to do based on growing up here, that I came back and I felt I had I had taken what I was given from here and tried to grow it and build on it, and now was in a position to come back and give some of it back.”

Thank you, Smriti and Rochester Beacon, for your interest in and support of ACT Rochester!

Curated Article: Women and Labor Market Recovery

On July 26, Brookings published a research study on the role of “prime-age women” in labor market recovery. Prime-age is defined as women within the age of 25 and 54, and the idea is that women in this age range have increasingly participated in the labor force. Fair warning that the study is very data-heavy, with several charts and interactive graphics, but the overall point is that women are participating in the labor force at high rates.

The study also highlights that female participation in the labor force varies by racial/ethnic group, educational attainment, marital status, and disability status. The study also highlights variation in labor force participation for mothers of school-age children - there was an uptick immediately after the COVID lockdown, and that trend has leveled out. 

We know that COVID had a profound influence on labor force participation patterns, so it is important to pay attention to how patterns continue. Keep in mind that the article is about national trends, but still relevant to the conversations we are having in our community about the need for child care and potential impacts of employment policies on families. 

Consider these national trends when we think about employment opportunities in our region, target audiences for career pipelines, and our ongoing upward mobility efforts. 

Curated Podcast: Working together to create affordable housing that lasts

On July 11th, the Next City Podcast shared a case study from Richmond, Virginia that offers a possible permanent affordable housing solution that is worth considering for our community. The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust (MWCLT) is a unique non-profit that is both a land bank and a community land trust. This means that, as a land bank, MWCLT can acquire land for little to no cost from the city, and as a community land trust, the organization can develop that land and sell the home at a low cost, while keeping the land itself in their name. This creates affordable housing in Richmond that is permanent; homeowners who buy from MWCLT can keep the home for generations, or sell it, but they must sell it at a capped price to an income-eligible buyer.  

The dual role of MWCLT is especially beneficial as it limits competition between the public and private sectors. This case study emphasizes the power that collaboration can have in generating solutions, a lesson that is close to my heart. I have the privilege of working with three initiatives at the Community Foundation, one being Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization (RENEW). RENEW is another example of a unique effort to address access to housing; we work with numerous community partners in our region to braid resources to administer home repair and weatherization grants, with the mission of making homes more energy efficient, healthier, and safer. (If you’re interested in learning more about RENEW, there is a case study about the initiative in our Inclusive Recovery dashboard that I’d recommend checking out).  

What working with RENEW has emphasized to me, and what this example from Richmond only further demonstrates, is that collaboration between various partners across the community sparks creative solutions to important issues, including in the field of housing. This podcast is a quick, interesting episode, and I invite you to give it a listen, to learn more about the history of the MWCLT and to revel in their recent successes! 

Contributed by Madison Esposito, Program Administrator for RACF Initiatives and University of Rochester graduate. 

Curated article: Brookings takes a holistic look at SNAP benefits

On June 20th, Brookings published an article discussing the many benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), beyond alleviating hunger for families in the United States. With helpful, interactive graphics and concise data, these authors offer an overview of what SNAP is and who might be eligible for the program, while also exploring the layered benefits of a program that is largely independent of household makeup and demographics.

SNAP makes it possible for households to free up other funds for basic needs beyond hunger. Though the funds from SNAP can only be spent on specific items, not having to spend personal funds on those items creates space for families to handle other large, often unexpected expenses, like car repairs or urgent care visits. It provides room to practice balancing a budget and avoid future debts, which is critically important to maintaining financial stability. 

At its core, this article reminds us to look at the holistic picture of economic mobility and stability, and the branching effects that stem from the allowance of flexibility. It is an interesting, short read that communicates data around SNAP in clear context to offer an expanded perspective about the importance of the program. I’d encourage you to give it a read, then explore our indicator about SNAP under “Demographics.” Take note what trends you find interesting across time and see how they may—or may not!—connect with the ideas presented by the team at Brookings. 

Contributed by Madison Esposito, Program Administrator for RACF Initiatives and University of Rochester graduate. 

Birthday Wish

Meg here, and it’s my birthday today. I have had so many conversations with friends across our 8-county region since the June 4th event and I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all of the support and for the genuine engagement in becoming advanced data users and storytellers. 

I’d like to make a birthday wish: I wish for continuous improvement. Avoid the overwhelm and choose one thing at a time to tackle. So, I encourage everyone to try to step away from being so overwhelmed by current events and to think of one thing that you can tackle that will bring joy, and do it. I promise I will do the same and I’m convinced that an influx in joy will radiate goodness. 

Thank you for indulging me a public birthday wish :-) Happy summer!

Curated Article: Promoting a Culture of Caring in Education

In the summer 2024 edition of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, there is an article that uses many of the buzz words and phrases that our community has oft discussed lately: systems change, mental health crisis, change organization, and social connectedness. The article, found here, is a comprehensive look at efforts to improve mental health for school-age youth. 

With the 2024 Olympics in Paris coming up and athletes like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps working to reduce the stigma around mental health, there is momentum toward positive change. What can you learn? What role can you play?

Funding POC Arts

Today, July 9th, 2024, Next City and Hester Street published a podcast about the consequences of not funding arts programs, particularly arts programs operated by people of color and in non-white communities. The podcast (included if you scroll down to the end of the short introductory article) is an important conversation - I encourage you to pay attention particular from 10 minutes to 12 minutes and then a conversation about data and metrics around the arts at the 21st minute.

The importance of funding the arts is well-known and recognized here at Rochester Area Community Foundation - see the work RACF does in Arts and Culture here. 

Additionally, the Center for an Urban Future published a report about how the arts catalyze economic vitality - find information and the report here. 

Curated Report: The Children’s Agenda Rochester City Budget Highlights

Local advocacy organization The Children’s Agenda released a report highlighting the Rochester City’s Budget allocations, with a particular emphasis on how the budget affects children. 

The report calls out policy efforts in the areas of poverty, support for the public library system, youth development and mental health, and youth violence prevention. 

The report is very well-organized, providing readers a summary of budgeted items by category as well as commendations and recommendations. PLEASE READ!

Podcast: How to be productive without burning out

In February of 2024 there was an episode of Organizational Psychologist Adam Grant’s podcast ReThinking (based on his book Think Again, which I *highly* recommend) about the challenge in measuring productivity. The episode is titled “How to be productive without burning out” and is in conversation with Cal Newport. Please give it a listen!

The entertaining conversation of two adept sparring partners is about measuring productivity in jobs that have hard-to-measure outputs. They reference the knowledge and service industries as case studies for the productivity dilemma, but I urge you to also think of the non-profit and social sector as you listen. The strategic question posed to me most often is: how do I measure the impact of _____ ? How can we count, measure, assess our work so that we can then determine whether it was “good”? These are really tough questions and this podcast was catalytic in my own thinking, which I now offer to the ACT audience. 

I hope you enjoy this listen as much as I did! How can we integrate Slow Productivity into our operating systems?

Brookings blog on measuring economic need

As staff at RMAPI will be quick to remind us, the federal poverty line is a limited measure of poverty. The measure is far too low. I often think of the scene from The West Wing (click here for a refresher) about the federal poverty line formula. 

On June 20th, Brookings published a blog post about measuring economic need, arguing for a calculation of a basket of basic necessities to highlight budget shortfalls. From this vantage point, the Economic Policy Institute at Brookings assembled family budgets, a variety of charts and figures, and an explanation of economic realities for too many families in the US. 

This community talks about poverty a lot, let’s make sure we know what poverty actually means. 

Curated Article: Rochester Beacon’s take on “Momentum toward 2034”

On June 6th, the Rochester Beacon published an article about Rochester’s comprehensive plan, which is “concerned with planning and designing for people, not cars.” 

The article includes user-friendly graphics, a summary of progress, a description of the placemaking theme, and how community engagement plays into this work. As informed citizens, we should have an idea of the ideas and components of these kinds of plans, and this article provides a very approachable outline, with context. 

ACT Rochester also participates in the Transportation Impact Collective, a collaborative effort to add intention and momentum to this work. 

Curated Post: Next City Covers Rochester as featured case about banking efforts

On June 3rd, 2024, nonprofit resource Next City posted a story titled “Why a Rochester Credit Union Wants the Local Government to Create Its Own Bank” as a case study for lenders meeting residents’ and small business owners’ needs. The Genesee Co-op Federal Credit Union is featured as part of a push to create a Bank of Rochester, a “public bank” intended to hold only government deposits and partner with local private lenders. 

The article outlines how the idea of a public bank would work and makes the argument for the potential of such a program. This idea is also a spark for thinking about alternative lending, alternative banking options. 

As we learned in Dr. Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America, the banking industry is a particularly institutionalized impediment for upward mobility. Consider this alternative, or come up with your own ideas, as you engage in conversations about banking equity, and the potential of this community to encourage home ownership, small business development, and our general upward mobility efforts. 

A State-Level Look at the Social Safety Net

The US social safety net is a collection of programs meant to support families experiencing financial hardship. The provision of these programs varies widely by state, and Brookings has published an article and interactive data tool for us to review New York State. These are great references to consider, particularly as we think about the elections coming up in November and the overall well-being of our community. 

As you review these tools, also consider New York State tax credit policies, laid out and defined here. Consider looking up other states as well, so you can put New York in context.  

Curated Webinar: ARPA and US Placemaking

On Tuesday, June 11th from 1:30pm to 3:00pm Eastern Time, Next City is hosting a webinar to explore ARPA’s significant investment in local governments. The webinar includes representatives from PlacemakingUS, National League of Cities, and Michigan Municipal League to discuss what we have seen with ARPA’s historic investment at the state and local level. Click here to learn more.  

Locally, we have been intentional in our approach to ARPA funds, with an eye toward inclusive and equitable recovery. See our Inclusive Recovery narrative page and Federal Recovery Funds dashboard for more information and relevant case studies. 

Guest Post: Navigating Screen Time in Early Childhood

It’s no secret that too much screen time can throw off a child’s bedtime routine or cut into playtime that’s critical for their physical and social development. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests keeping it simple: no screens for kids under 2 (except for video chats) and only an hour a day for children between 2 and 5, focusing on high-quality programming.

Despite the downsides, there's a silver lining to screen use. Educational apps and shows from trusted creators like Sesame Workshop and PBS Kids have been lifesavers, offering engaging ways to introduce concepts like ABCs and 123s. We want to choose programs that are age-appropriate and foster curiosity rather than passive consumption.

My Top Tips for a Balanced Screen Diet

1. Pick Quality Content: Just like we watch what our kids eat, let’s be selective about what they watch. Look for programs that are educational and free of fast-paced, flashy distractions.

2. Set Clear Boundaries: Consistency is everything. Set clear rules about when screens are allowed and when they’re not, and stick to them as much as possible.

3. Watch Together: Whenever you can, sit down and watch with your kids. This lets us talk about what they're seeing and connect it back to things they know or have experienced, which turns screen time into a shared, interactive moment.

4. Designate Screen-free Spaces: Let’s make spaces like bedrooms a no-screen zone, which helps signal that these spaces are for sleeping and relaxing, not digital play.

5. Encourage Other Activities: Let’s also look for ways to get our kids playing outside or with toys that don’t have a power button. It’s important they learn to find joy and engagement in activities that don’t involve screens.

Finding the perfect balance of screen time can feel daunting, but by setting thoughtful guidelines and actively participating in how our children engage with digital media, we can make sure technology acts as a tool for learning and growth, not just a way to pass the time. It’s all about creating a healthy media diet that works for each child’s needs and the family’s values. Here’s to navigating the digital age with a little more confidence and a lot more heart!

Dr. Tyana Velazquez-Smith is the Director of Early Childhood at Rochester Area Community Foundation. With a doctorate in Teaching and Curriculum from the University of Rochester, Dr. Velazquez-Smith is an adjunct instructor at U of R, teaching courses like Race, Class, Gender & Disability in American Schools. She is the Founder and CEO of Sensational Inclusion, dedicated to building equitable educational ecosystems. Dr. Velazquez-Smith is a native Rochestarian, passionate activist, educator, and dedicated researcher.

The University of Chicago Crime Lab and RIT’s Center for Public Safety Initiatives

Public safety, incarceration, and the national gun violence crisis is top of mind, locally and across the US. The concern is clear, but the solutions are not. Enter: higher education-sponsored research and evaluation. 

Prestigious universities are directing resources and human capital to learn more about how to increase safety in our communities. The University of Chicago’s Crime Lab is nationally renowned and oft-referenced for its work in this area, and we have a local center dedicated to public safety research at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

The Crime Lab at the University of Chicago’s stated mission is to design, test, and scale data-driven innovations to improve the public sector’s response to the dual challenges of America’s gun violence crisis and a criminal justice system that is not truly just. Their website is a valuable resource for research and findings based in Chicago, and the vision suggests that they plan to expand their work nationwide. 

RIT’s College of Liberal Arts hosts a multi-disciplinary research center called the Center for Public Safety Initiatives that examines strategies to reduce crime and enhance the administration of justice. Services of the center include program evaluation, data analytics, and project management. Be sure to visit the website for research, staff and student information, and a story map collection that provides public-safety data for Monroe County. 

Curated Article: An Innovative Approach to Traffic Safety

The Stanford Social Innovation Review has an excellent article titled “A New Model for Saving Lives on Roads Around the World” that both highlights a successful program in India and models rigorous problem-solving. 

The article begins with descriptive statistics to paint the picture of the safety crisis for vehicles in India. Authors point out that India has only 1 percent of the world’s motor vehicles yet accounts for 11 percent of road crash fatalities. The data story is clear: Intervention is necessary. 

This article is particularly notable because of its advanced use of data for decision-making. In one section, authors describe how data indicated a need to prevent rear-end collisions, but that guidance from the West suggested tactile edge lines that didn’t work in India. The solution began with existing guidance and was then customized to suit the Indian community in need. Continuous improvement in action.

The Design Thinking section of the Stanford Social Innovation Review is an excellent resource to train our thinking about problem-solving.

Curated Webinar: Black voters and the complexity of race and politics in the 2024 elections

On May 16, 2024, the Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative at Brookings held a virtual event where scholars discussed trends and insights specifically about Black voters. The live YouTube event highlighted some myths about Black voters – including debunking the idea that Black people don’t vote – and provided insight into why Black voters may not unanimously support the Democratic party in the way that popular culture would like. 

Pro tip: At about 49 minutes in, an audience member asks for how white allies can support Black voters. 

Note: Brookings will be hosting similar webinars for other racial/ethnic groups. Sign up for the Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative events newsletter here.

Guest Post: Census Geographies

To unlock the power of the US Census (data provided every 10 years) and the American Community Survey (data provided every year), an understanding of relevant underlying geographies is crucial. Below are explanations of the nine most relevant Census geographies. 

Census Block: The smallest geography in the census, it represents a small segment of housing units in a neighborhood. Limited data is available, especially in lower density areas. 

Census Block Group: A collection of census blocks are packaged together to create a census block group. Census block groups roughly represent neighborhoods. 

Census Tract: This is the smallest unit in which population-level data from the Census is widely available. There are between 1,200 and 8,000 people in each census tract, but the optimal number per tract is 4,000.  

Zip Code Tabulation Areas: This geography contains all addresses within a postal code. Zip codes can be found in parts of the county in which census blocks, census block groups, and census tracts may not be found. Zip codes follow existing geographic barriers such as county subdivisions and counties to a lesser extent than other smaller geographies.  

County Subdivisions: This geography consists of cities, towns, townships, and villages within a specific county. These geographies are the smallest relevant self-governing geography included in the Census. The geographic boundaries of county subdivisions do not align well with other geographic boundaries such as Zip codes and census tracts. 

Place: This geography is very similar to county subdivision, but it contains unincorporated areas in some states and is divorced from county of origin.

Counties: These are a largely administrative geography with a focus on governance. Counties consist of county subdivisions and places, and typically envelop urban high-density cities. This geography varies greatly in population across the United States, but is a strong choice for evaluative geography due to the relatively low standard error in Census and ACS metrics. 

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs): This geography is based around core urban areas and encompasses all areas around this core that have a high degree of economic and social integration. MSAs are not limited by counties, places, or county subdivisions, but can cross relevant political boundaries in order to capture population interest. 

Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs): This geography builds upon the concept of MSAs to include surrounding areas with less integration but high economic reliance on major metro areas. This could include hinterlands of major metros that are only semi-urban. CSAs create a boundary to identify regions that transcend metro boundaries. 

In light of these definitions, we urge you to consider the geography of the question or problem that you have in mind. In many cases, we may need to consider establishing more localized data collection.

Written by Cameron Caputi, Director of Foundation and Community Analytics at Rochester Area Community Foundation. Cameron has a Master of Public Policy and Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and is a skilled data scientist focused on data processes, dashboard creation, and advanced coding. 

Curated Chapters: Chapter 3 and Chapter 9 in Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America

One of the charges for Poverty Abolitionists in Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America is his argument about the inequities of the US banking system. In Chapter 3, Desmond calls out banking. If you have not read the full book yet, I recommend flagging pages 71 to 79. Desmond’s argument is that the poor are trapped in a cycle of debt. From fee structures (think overdraft fees) to overt racial discrimination in banking practices to even banking hours kept, the system is not designed for the poor. Pile on the credit system and qualifying for loans and it’s an uphill battle, to say the very least. So, how can we work toward a more equitable banking system? 

Chapter 9 highlights zoning laws as key vehicles for exclusion and a key component of structural inequality. Desmond argues for a diversity of voices in the zoning conversations, where decisions about community development are made by a group that better reflects the community. If we can move toward more inclusive zoning policy, we would move toward setting a norm of inclusivity. 

The City of Rochester is updating its zoning code, see Rochester Zoning Alignment Project to learn more.