Mission

 The mission of the Bronx Institute for Urban Systems is to use GIS Education   and Systems Planning principles to improve Bronx neighborhoods.

 

vision

To establish the Bronx as a  Sustainable Solutions innovator to adapt to Climate Change.

 

Introduction/Summary

 

The Bronx Institute for Urban Systems (BIUS) is committed to increasing the technical expertise of community members and nonprofit professionals by introducing the interrelationship of science, architecture, policy, and planning through the principles of systems planning. We believe Urban Sustainability begins by learning about the ecology of the urban environment, understanding the impact of growing populations, and the impact the development industry has on the natural environment. The mission of the Bronx Institute for Urban Systems is to use GIS Education and Systems Planning principles to improve Bronx neighborhoods. BIUS’s purpose is to educate and advocate for underprivileged communities by incorporating data analysis, mapping, and historical studies using GIS-based services. 

   SERVICES

      •      Mapping and Analysis

      •      Institutional Development

      •      Technical Assistance to non-profits and companies

      •      Communication and Education

 

Problem/Need Statement

 

Civics education and job training programs are very limited in our area of focus of the South Bronx. While attending SUNY ESF and Hunter College, the founder of the Institute noticed that there was a lack of diversity in the GIS, Urban Planning, Architecture, and Environmental Science field. These fields play a crucial role on working on solutions to reduce the impact of Climate Change and how communities are designed and planned. The BIPOC Community are the first to face the effects of Climate Change and for many generations have faced Environmental Injustice.  Women are also not included in the discussion on how to plan the future of our planet as well. They are unrepresented in those fields.

Figure 1 This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Urban and Regional Planning for each race & ethnicity (Datausa.io).

Black and Latinos make up at most 8% of those in the Urban Regional planning field (Figure 1).


Figure 2 Gender Percentage for those pursuing Urban and Regional Planner Degrees (Datausa.io).

Females account for only 40% of the Urban Regional Planners. Even lower than 4% for people of color working in those fields (Figure 2).

Figure 3 This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in the Geographic Information Science and Cartography for each race & ethnicity (Datausa.io).

In the Geographic Information science and cartography field, about 15% are Latino and Black or African American.

Figure 4 Gender breakdown for those in the Geographic Information Science and Cartography fields (Datausa.io)

Less than 10% of women that are Hispanic or Latina, Black or African, and Asian are in the Geographic Information Science and Cartographic fields.

Figure 5  This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Architecture for each race & ethnicity (Datausa.io).

Hispanic or Latino, 18%, Black or African American, 7%, are architects.

Figure 6 This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Environmental Science for each race & ethnicity (Datausa.io).

Hispanic of Latino, 11%, and Black or African American, 5%, are in the Environmental Science Field.

The Bronx Institute for Urban Systems is needed now more than ever, especially during this highly politicized period in our country’s history. With fresh young energy in the house and senate, there is more interest in government policy and legislation. People young and old in typically divested communities are inspired to act and champion local efforts to rebuild their neighborhoods and bring about spatial change in a more equitable fashion. The work we do will increase awareness of those fields. The ways communities are planned will be represented by those who live in the community.