City Tech Collaborative today announced renewed funding from the Otho S. A. Sprague Memorial Institute to expand the use of and data available on the Chicago Health Atlas.

The goals of the Health Atlas are to serve as a resource for residents, public health practitioners, hospitals, and local organizations to review, explore and compare health-related data over time and across communities; understand the assets and needs of their communities; highlight area healthcare providers; and see progress toward implementing Healthy Chicago 2.0, the citywide plan to improve health equity. The Chicago Health Atlas is, by design, an evolving tool. Through new partnerships, improved data and continuous updates to the site, City Tech and partners seek to equip practitioners and the public to understand and improve the city's health. The Health Atlas was initially developed in 2013 through a partnership between the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the former Smart Chicago Collaborative. In 2017, a re-imagined site was launched with better visualizations and an enhanced user experience.

The support from the Sprague Institute allowed City Tech, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health and Clarity Partners, to add features and improve usability. The online tool now provides better descriptions, instructions and the ability to test specific parameters and view returned results. New features also include allowing the user to identify whether data for an indicator is available in citywide, community area or zip code formats by the dynamic button display on the indicator pages.

“The Institute created the Chicago Health Atlas to make information on community assets and health disparities more accessible. As the format evolved, it has incorporated new data sets and gained new utility,” said Jim Alexander, Executive Director of the Sprague Institute.

The Institute’s 2019 grant also has allowed City Tech to create the Partner Innovation Fund, which can be accessed on an as-needed basis throughout the year when a new data source has been identified but the data partner cannot provide the entire cost needed for City Tech to onboard their data to the Atlas. This approach of adding data from a community partner to data currently available on the Atlas from the Chicago Department of Public Health was piloted by the Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI).

In March, SUHI released additional findings from the Sinai Community Health Survey 2.0 (Sinai Survey) on the Atlas. Sinai Survey 2.0 is one of the largest community-driven, face-to-face health surveys ever conducted in Chicago and was developed by SUHI in collaboration with the Sinai Survey 2.0 Community Advisory Committee and The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Survey Research Laboratory. Sinai Survey 2.0 documents the health of selected Chicago community areas to better understand the social factors associated with health-related behaviors, service utilization, and outcomes; and to develop public health interventions to address health inequities.

As part of this endeavor, 40 new data points were released, providing insights into health and the factors that influence health across nine community areas, including Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, Norwood Park, South Lawndale, West Englewood, and West-West Town (West Town community area west of Western Avenue only).

This data covers a range of health topics, from clinical care to mental health, to food access to experiences with the justice system. In addition to previously released data, 16 new indicators were added.

Through enhanced features, City Tech and partners hope to provide public health practitioners and residents with practical insights. “These new features in combination with more data available from the community exemplifies our mission of bringing together organizations to improve urban life,” said Brenna Berman, executive director of City Tech, which transforms cities into testbeds for new ideas.

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About City Tech
City Tech transforms cities into testbeds for new ideas. We remake essential city services and infrastructure using advanced technology, and then expand these solutions to other cities. With our partners, we are diverting rainwater from overloaded sewer systems, easing subway congestion during large events, and launching a digital directory of public health services in Chicago. https://www.citytechcollaborative.org/

About Sprague
Founded in 1911, The Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute is one of the 18 oldest grantmaking foundations in the U.S. Its mandate is …the investigation of the causes of disease and the prevention and relief of human suffering. Initially, it hired a group of diverse researchers whose work focused on tuberculosis treatments; insulin and diabetes; cigarettes and lung cancer; the impact of environmental factors on health; and chemical treatments of schizophrenia. More recently, The Institute founded the Chicago Asthma Consortium; CLOCC, the childhood obesity prevention network; the Patient Connection Program at the Red Cross; The Oral Health Forum; MedAccess Chicago, a pharmaceutical distribution program; a variety of health initiatives in the Chicago Public Schools, including tele-behavioral health services; and a network of 30+ Chicago area hospitals working to address community health needs. For additional information: www.spragueinstitute.org

About Sinai Urban Health Institute
Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) is the nationally-recognized community health research center of Sinai Health System. SUHI’s mission is to achieve health equity among communities through excellence and innovation in data-driven research, interventions, evaluation, and collaboration. SUHI works in partnership with communities to document disparities and improve health across Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Additional details regarding Sinai Community Health Survey 2.0 can be found on the Chicago Health Atlas ( https://www.chicagohealthatlas.org/sinaisurvey ) and on the Sinai Survey 2.0 website ( www.sinaisurvey.org). Learn more about Sinai Health System at http://www.sinai.org

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today released the New Transportation and Mobility Task Force reportat the Chicago Connectory, the Midwest IoT innovation space by Bosch and 1871. Chaired by former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the Task Force met over the last six months to establish a forward-looking and innovative roadmap to support a 21st century, multi-modal transportation system that effectively integrates new mobility services and technologies.

“Chicago has a world-class transportation system, and we must continue to modernize our mobility services and transit infrastructure to better serve residents, businesses, and visitors,” said Mayor Emanuel. “With Ray LaHood’s leadership and expertise, we brought together the best and the brightest to help inform how Chicago can move forward and build on our status as a leader in transportation.”

The 20-member Task Force developed the report and spoke with over 40 industry experts and stakeholders to ensure it provides a comprehensive and focused vision for the future of transportation in Chicago. The Task Force examined challenges within the City’s existing transportation network, from accessibility concerns to the rise in ride-hailing trips and congestion issues, as well as the lack of sufficient funding for infrastructure. The Task Force also had focused discussion on the future of transportation – autonomous vehicles, electrification, new micro-mobility services, growth of freight delivery, and data collection and data sharing issues.  

“Through Mayor Emanuel’s leadership, Chicago’s transportation system has become a model for the country,” said former US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This report doubles down on the investments already made to modernize the City’s mobility infrastructure and provides a vision for the future of transportation in Chicago.”  

The Task Force report provides a set of principles for government leaders and stakeholders to follow for forward-looking policy development, infrastructure planning, the launch of new programs and pilot studies, and studies of new innovations and services. These principles include:

• A transportation system that is safe for all users
• Mobility choices that are accessible, equitable, affordable and non-discriminatory
• Economic development that is inclusive and innovative
• A City that is efficient, smart and reliable
• Communities that are sustainable, healthy, and built using universal design principles
• Data and information that is actionable, transparent, shared, and secure
• Regulation of private providers that is guided by public benefits

Based on these principles, the Task Force developed a set of seven interdependent recommendations to support an efficient, affordable, reliable, and accessible multi-modal transportation system:

1. Streamline governance and management of transportation systems and policies within and across City departments, agencies and private sector;
2. Develop uniform, detailed and secure data sharing requirements between public and private entities;
3. Support investments in transportation infrastructure to meet the City’s mobility goals;
4. Encourage mode shift to right-sized capacity and increased passenger mile efficiency;
5. Build an accessible, affordable and convenient multi-modal transportation system;
6. Advance a transportation and mobility system that promotes the environmental health and sustainability and improves overall livability of the city; and
7. Prepare Chicago for Connected and Automated Vehicles.

These recommendations are supported by over 50 specific proposed actions, policy changes or studies, including: increasing funding for transportation by increasing the state’s motor fuel tax and developing reliable alternative long-term funding streams; establishing a Chief Mobility Officer; incentivizing business to provide public transit benefits to employees; determining a governance framework for uniform data-sharing; launching a pilot to study the impacts of autonomous vehicles; ensuring micro-mobility services and new mobility options are accessible for all and do not impede sidewalks; establishing Chicago as a leader in the use of electric vehicles; conducting a scooter-sharing pilot in 2019; and evaluating ways to restructure transportation-related taxes and fees to better support mobility goals, including reducing the reliance on single occupancy vehicles.  

In detailing its recommendations, the Task Force also determined the steps the City, its sister agencies, and other key stakeholders must take to implement the actions, policies and studies detailed in the report. The City and Chicago Transit Authority will lead many of the next steps in partnership with Task Force members including City Tech. In collaboration with government, university and industry organizations, City Tech will develop focused pilots to evaluate how a policy, technology, or new solution can contribute to solving mobility problems.

 

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Task Force Members

• Raymond LaHood, Chairman, former Secretary, US Department of Transportation
• Brenna Berman; Executive Director, City Tech Collaborative
• Marca Bristo; President & CEO, Access Living (Represented by Adam Ballard)
• Ron Burke; Executive Director, Active Transportation Alliance
• Dorval Carter; President, Chicago Transit Authority
• Brian Collie; Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) / Global Leader, Automotive & Mobility Sector
• Rosa Escareno; Commissioner, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
• Sharon Feigon; Executive Director, Shared-Use Mobility Center
• Jacky Grimshaw; Vice President, Center for Neighborhood Technology
• Stefan Gspurning ; Head of Urban Mobility, Bosch in North America
• Ronnie Harris; Visionary Lead, Go Bronzeville
• Sandy Hogan; Senior Vice President and General Manager of Americas, HERE Technologies
• Tom Kotarac; Vice President of Transportation and Infrastructure, Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago
• Angel Mendez; Chief Operating Officer, HERE Technologies
• Robert Rivkin; Deputy Mayor, City of Chicago
• Rebekah Scheinfeld; Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation
• Ann M. Schlenker; Director, Center for Transportation Research at Argonne National Lab
• Dr. Joe Schwieterman; Director, DePaul University's Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development
• Joseph Szabo; Executive Director, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
• Karen Tamley ; Commissioner, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
• Mike Tomas; Executive Director, Garfield Park Community Council
• Audrey Wennink; Director of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Council  

Link to City of Chicago press release.

 

City Tech is pleased accept applications for the second round of the Connect Chicago Innovation Program along with funders Microsoft, Comcast, Sprint, the Lenovo Foundation, Gogo, Clarity Partners, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The Connect Chicago Innovation Program will support collaborative, new ideas to increase tech access, skills, and engagement across Chicago. Applications are open today!

At City Tech, we form cross-sector coalitions that aim to solve complex urban changes that no one institution can address alone. Through our piloting work , we do this across public health, mobility, waste management, and other essential city categories. Technology inequity is a likewise complex challenge, stemming from gaps in Internet access and infrastructure, digital skills, relevancy, and hardware access.

Fortunately, Chicago has a robust ecosystem of digital inclusion players, from churches  to adult literacy organizations  to our  library system. City Tech’s Connect Connect Chicago Innovation Program aims to catalyze new partnerships between these diverse institutions and support new digital inclusion solutions and models that Chicago and other cities can scale.

About the Connect Chicago Innovation Program

Applications for the Connect Chicago Innovation Program open on February 18th and close on March 18th at 11:59pm CST. Each application should come from teams comprised of two or more partnered organizations.

In 2019, the winning team will be awarded (1) professional development support from City Tech to refine, workshop, and develop the proposed solution (2) up to $60,000 to support a pilot to test their collaborative idea.

How do I learn more and apply?

Nonprofit organizations can apply for the Connect Chicago Innovation Program by filling out this online form at bit.ly/ccapp2019  by 11:59pm CST on March 18th, 2019.

To learn more about the application process, what we're looking for in applications, what support winning proposals will receive, and the deliverables winning projects will be expected to complete you can read our FAQs  on the Connect Chicago Innovation Program & Application.

If you have any questions about City Tech’s Connect Chicago Innovation Program, please email Please email City Tech’s Manager of Operations and Services, Meera Raja at [email protected].

About City Tech Collaborative (City Tech): City Tech reinvents cities. With partners and people, we remake essential services and infrastructure, from skills to skyscrapers. We then prepare these solutions for other cities, thus increasing the world’s odds of solving big, urban problems. We are currently easing subway congestion during large events; creating a digital map of Chicago’s underground; and launching a digital directory of public health services in Chicago.To learn more, follow City Tech on Twitter  or join our LinkedIN group.