Igniting the GIS for Good Movement
Introduction
In 2023, RomoGIS traveled all across the country teaching, training and providing GIS expertise and community development services to non-profits, K-12 schools and community organizations. In our work, we seek to inspire the next generation of leaders by providing greater access to tools like GIS and drone technology. We also train students in the use of community organizing strategies to create local change. This 2023 storymap showcases our commitment to equipping communities with innovative strategies and intentional opportunities for personal and professional development. This storymap also highlights some of our recently developed apps, workshops and programming that have empowered communities and created positive impact.
Hope & Heal Fund
GIS for Gun Violence Prevention Cohort 1
February 2023 | San Francisco, CA
RomoGIS developed a 5-week geospatial course helping community leaders to visualize their data along with publicly available gun homicide data to strengthen their gun violence prevention efforts. Our team integrated the training curriculum to an inaugural cohort of community organizations in the use of GIS to address gun violence and improve public safety in Northern California. The training offered the opportunity for participants to practice sharing their stories and strengthen their advocacy by bringing more accountability with their data visualizations.
Verizon Small Business Grant
Funded by Verizon and Local Initiatives Support Corporation
May 18, 2023 | Detroit, MI
RomoGIS Enterprises was awarded the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant to help expand our impact with valuable resources including additional access to online courses, tools, and business coaching.
GIS & Drone Pathways
Frederick Douglass Academy of Detroit Public Schools
June 20-22, 2023 | Detroit, MI
RomoGIS has helped develop the high school GIS & Drone Pathways Program in Detroit, Michigan. Our student-centered program teaches students how to use GIS and drone technologies to make interactive maps, create powerful visualizations, and support their community. We train students with a mixture of technical and interpersonal leadership skills to prepare them for a career in the geospatial industry and as influential community leaders.
The free 3-Day GIS & Drone Summer Camp is an exciting opportunity for students to build their GIS skills, fly drones, network with innovation professionals, and celebrate their accomplishments with community. Check out the GIS Summer Camp Sparks Innovation & Exploration StoryMap to catch the highlights of this impactful event!
Hope & Heal Fund
GIS for Gun Violence Prevention Cohort 2
July 7, 2023 | Turlock, CA
RomoGIS and Hope & Heal Fund intentionally created a network of Northern California community organizations that are trained with the GIS skills to leverage data and strengthen collaborations that advance social justice efforts focused on data-informed and effective gun violence interruption and prevention solutions.
The RomoGIS team trained nearly 30 community organizations and advocates in the use of GIS to address issues of social equity and justice with the improved 5-week geospatial course that incorporated Freedom of Information Act and California Public Records Act content to support community-led advocacy efforts. During the final in-person meeting, participants finalized and shared their maps with each other. It was remarkable to see the growth in their confidence in using GIS tools and the variety of maps created by Cohort 2!
Esri
Esri User Conference 2023
July 10-14, 2023 | San Diego, CA
During the poster presentations at the Esri User Conference, our team talked with a diverse audience about how the California Gun Homicides 2014 - 2022 Dashboard utilizes open data to amplify community efforts and better direct resources for effective gun violence prevention and interruption efforts.
NAF
NAF Next 2023 Conference
July 21, 2023 | Phoenix, AZ
The GIS & Drone Pathways program is nationally recognized by The National Academy Foundation (NAF) as a Distinguished Academy for others interested in empowering the next generation of leaders. Frank Romo and GIS Pathway Advisory Board members and Ambassadors were invited to join nearly 900 educators, community leaders and partners at NAF Next 2023 to share their perspectives. Our team highlighted how we don't do regular education. We have high expectations for our students. We also have the accountability and support to make the expectations achievable. We're equipping students with lifelong skills. The program is utilizing GIS & Drone technology for leadership development and mentorship opportunities to better prepare students to become college, career, and future ready!
Cook County
Pathways to Cook County Expo
August 8, 2023 | Chicago, IL
RomoGIS participated in the Pathways to Cook County Expo event to build connections and learn of local resources. Our team learned about grants and opportunities to collaborate on projects with an aim to advance economic development and racial equity within the county.
Publications
News Media Coverage for Recent Work
August 2023 | Virtual
The Mapping Gun Homicides in California report was highlighted by numerous media outlets including Fox11 Los Angeles , The Mercury News , CBS News Bay Area , and GV Wire .
Fox 2 News
Detroit program teaches students about STEM, prepares them for careers
September 13, 2023 | Detroit, MI
Watch GIS Pathways students interviewed and flying drones at FDA here !
Technology program inspiring DPS students to seek diverse career paths
October 8, 2023 | Detroit, MI
Watch GIS Pathways Ambassador Ashton Colson interviewed along with Advisory Board leaders in the Fox 2 Studio here !
University of Michigan
Presented at the Taubman Visualization Lab
October 5, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI
Thank you Anya Sirota and Sharron Haar for inviting Frank Romo to lead a workshop in the Urban Planning and Architecture program on critical data visualizations, alternative forms of data acquisition, urban mapping, and creative communication strategies.
Geo for Good Conference
October 9-10, 2023 | Mountain View, CA
Frank Romo was selected to attend Google's Geo for Good Conference! It was great learning how to utilize Google Earth Engine to develop solutions and strategies that use time-series data and scale analysis to large regions for social change.
AAG Conference
Race, Ethnicity, and Place Conference
October 12, 2023 | George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Participated in a panel discussion at the American Association of Geographers' (AAG) Conference focused on operationalizing investing with the people and places where the needs are greatest to address the urgent needs of unserved and underserved regions and communities.
The discussion with the audience of academic professionals highlighted the need to build relationships with community before the funding gets dispersed to strengthen the impact of grant funding and research.
IBM & CODE
Open Data for Racial Equity Panel
October 12, 2023 | Washington, D.C.
The RomoGIS team attended the panel hosted by IBM and the Center for Open Data Enterprise. Thank you to Joel Gurin for hosting and Nicole Franklin of Enhanced Interactions for inviting our team to join!
Brady
Building a Future without Gun Violence Northern California Summit
October 14, 2023 | Burlingame, CA
RomoGIS led a discussion about the importance of accessible data, community-led narratives, and the implications for equity. Our team highlighted equitable, data-driven approaches to strengthen collective advocacy efforts to reduce gun violence.
It was inspiring meeting with so many community leaders and local advocates, including Youth Alive leaders, Team ENOUGH, Brady chapter members and Regional Leadership Council, as well as California's Attorney General Rob Bonta.
URISA
61st Annual GIS-Pro Conference
October 17-18, 2023 | Columbus, OH
Pathways Student Ambassadors and RomoGIS interns DeAnthony Neal and Xylon Holmes participated in a really exciting opportunity to build their confidence presenting at the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association's (URISA) GIS-Professional Conference. These inspiring leaders opened the conference with their presentation to showcase their custom web application as a GIS solution for their colleagues at FDA in front of 200+ professionals. Check out the Student Ambassadors' StoryMap of event highlights here!
FEMA & CODE
Federal Emergency Management Agency & Center for Open Data Enterprise Roundtable Discussions and Workshops
November 2023 | Virtual
Our team was invited to participate and provide expert perspectives, insights, and ideas to improve FEMA's flood risk data programs and develop new equitable ways to communicate flood information with an aim to achieve equity in the use of flood risk data by disadvantaged communities.
Colorado State University
GIS Day Activities
November 10, 2023 | Virtual
Frank Romo presented for Colorado State University GIS Day activities and encouraged more power to the people through accessible GIS trainings that have the potential to change the trajectory of people’s lives through better data-informed advocacy efforts and increased earning potential.
ArcPrep
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning Workshop
November 9-11, 2023 | Detroit, MI
RomoGIS led a three-day GIS interactive workshop for the ArcPrep program for high school students. The workshop included mental mapping activities, critical cartography perspectives and practice, as well as open data tools to enhance their community impact as future architects. It was fun to see the students' perspectives through the mental mapping activity and be a part of the celebrations of students' accomplishments!
NorthStar
Howard University Homecoming 2023
November 13, 2023 | Washington, D.C.
As a speaker, Frank Romo showcased how RomoGIS leverages technology and grass-roots organizing as complementary tools to drive positive change, enhance resilience and improve well-being in communities of color across the United States. The discussion highlighted impactful community case study examples of our asset-based approach of developing leaders from within organizations to take control of their data narratives and support long-term growth and sustainability.
EOS Campus Visit
November 14, 2023 | Detroit, MI
Frederick Douglass GIS Pathways Ambassadors shared their excitement for drone and GIS technologies with EOS, a partner of the GIS Pathways program. Please check out the video below to learn more about the students and their impact
You can also read the Frederick Douglass Academy GIS Week Highlights storymap created by RomoGIS Student Interns to learn about how students traveled to give presentations and speak on panels at Michigan State University for GIS Day!
GIS Day Los Angeles County
Urban and Regional Information Systems Association
November 15, 2023 | Los Angeles, CA
RomoGIS highlighted our community engagement model that upskills community leaders with GIS capabilities and confidence to tell their own stories, take charge of their data, and actively shape their communities. The presentation demonstrated the transformative power of GIS as both a research tool and a mechanism for community empowerment with examples of how RomoGIS has infused GIS into community workshops and activities to support educational and technical advancement.
CORE
Campus Visit
November 21, 2023 | Las Vegas, NV
CORE Powered by The Rogers Foundation is building a community that supports Scholars and families with equity, accountability, partnership, and kindness through after-school programming.
Frank Romo made a visit to meet with Team CORE and take a tour of the CORE program. The discussions explored how RomoGIS can supplement the program to expand opportunities for students throughout Las Vegas.
GARE, PFI & PFM
Municipal Bond Markets & Racial Equity Cohort 1
June - December 2023 | Boston, MA
The first cohort of the Municipal Bond Markets and Racial Equity Framework Technical Assistance & Grant Program provided a new framework that centers racial equity in municipal bond-funded projects and capital investments, as well as free technical assistance for government leaders. In partnership with the Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE), the Public Finance Initiative (PFI), the PFM Group Consulting LLC, and PFM Financial Advisors (PFM FA, collectively with PFM GC, PFM ), RomoGIS has provided a data workshop for program participants to help them measure and assess indicators of social equity in their jurisdictions. In an effort to build municipal capacity to center racial equity in decisions and practice, RomoGIS has also provided technical assistance for the City of Atlanta, Georgia, the City of Dallas, Texas, the City of Bloomington, Minnesota, as well as the City of St. Paul & the Port Authority of St. Paul, Minnesota.
xyHt Award
24 Young Geospatial Professionals to Watch in 2024
December 2023/January 2024 | Virtual
Looking Ahead
We are grateful to all of our community supporters and partners that made 2023 so memorable with our efforts of challenging the status quo to ensure a better quality of life for our communities.
As we plan 2024, RomoGIS is excited about the opportunities to further leverage innovative technology for community empowerment and social change. We are committed to continue this work and advance the GIS for Good Movement in 2024!
Please reach out to CEO Frank Romo to discuss opportunities for RomoGIS to make a classroom visit, host a summer camp, share workforce development opportunities, lead a GIS for Good workshop, or collaborate on a project focused on social impact. We are also happy to collaborate on grant opportunities. Together, let's continue to make a difference with GIS for Good!
CEO Frank Romo, contact@frankromo.com
LinkedIn: RomoGIS
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