Summer of Maps is a fellowship program that offers $5,000 to student GIS analysts to perform pro bono geospatial analysis work for non-profits over the summer
Philadelphia, PA, December 17, 2013 – Azavea, an award winning geospatial analysis (GIS) software development company, invites non-profits nationwide to submit an application to be considered for its third Summer of Maps. Azavea Summer of Maps is a program that offers $5,000 stipends to student GIS analysts to perform pro bono geospatial data analysis projects for non-profit organizations over a three-month period in the summer of 2014. The application process is organized into two phases. The first phase, organization applications, opens today and organizations have until February 9 to submit their application at: http://www.summerofmaps.com
In 2012 and 2013, Azavea received applications from organizations with a wide array of spatial analysis projects that spanned domains as varied as the arts and culture, environment, community and economic development, public health and food, elections and politics, transportation, and family services. This past summer, three students from Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Clark University worked on projects for the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, the Sunlight Foundation, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Texas Trees Foundation, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger.
The results of these projects have enabled the organizations to make strong cases in favor of the causes for which they advocate or enabled them to make strategic decisions to service the communities they serve. For instance, the analysis performed for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia revealed that bike theft was on the rise, jumping 15.5% from 2007 to 2012, while the results of the study performed for the Sunlight Foundation showed that in the 2012 election cycle just 10 counties nationwide were responsible for 30% of all contributions made by individual donors. The Texas Trees Foundation included the results of their study in the State of the Urban Forest – Dallas 2013 report to inform city officials and corporate sponsors about the economic returns of investing in urban forestry initiatives and encourage the policy-makers to set new goals for urban tree canopy for the City.
“I loved being a Summer of Maps Fellow. The experience of working on two engaging projects that I know have the potential to shape policy and thought, plus learning both new GIS skills as well as how to communicate and work with clients, all while being surrounded by an incredibly helpful and supportive team was invaluable,” said Lena Ferguson, 2013 Fellow.
From June to August 2014, the winning non-profit organizations will be able to:
- Receive pro bono services from a skilled student GIS analyst to geographically analyze their data
- Visualize their data in new ways
- Combine their data with other demographic and geographic data
- Receive high quality maps and visualizations that can be used to support new initiatives or make a case to prospective funders
The fellows will:
- Work on a spatial analysis project that supports the social mission of two non-profit organizations
- Work with Azavea mentors to improve their GIS and project management skills
- Receive a monthly stipend
- Gain work experience implementing real-world GIS projects
For more information about Summer of Maps and to apply, visit: http://www.summerofmaps.com/
About Azavea – Azavea is an award-winning geospatial data analysis and software development firm. Azavea is a certified B Corporation that applies geographic data and technology to promote the emergence of vibrant and sustainable communities while advancing the state-of-the-art through research. Each of Azavea’s projects, products and pro bono engagements showcases this commitment. Find out more at https://www.azavea.com/
If you would like more information about Azavea or to schedule an interview with Sarah Cordivano, Summer of Maps Project Manager, please contact Amy Trahey at (215) 558-6184 or e-mail atrahey@azavea.com.
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