Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance ( BNIA)
The Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (known as BNIA or the Alliance) is an organization consisting of diverse groups committed to promoting, supporting and helping people make better decisions using accurate, reliable, and accessible data and indicators to improve the quality of life in Baltimore City neighborhoods.
This unique Alliance builds on and coordinates the related work of citywide nonprofit organizations, city and state government agencies, neighborhoods, foundations, businesses and universities to support and strengthen the principle and practice of well informed decision making for change toward strong neighborhoods, improved quality of life, and a thriving city.
Functions
Groups and individuals involved in the Alliance contribute their strengths to ensure the following core functions are performed:
The Vital Signs - 40 outcome indicators that "take the pulse" of Baltimore neighborhoods by measuring progress toward a shared vision and desired results for strong neighborhoods, good quality of life, and a thriving, vital city over time. These Vital Signs were developed using a comprehensive community driven process, and are tracked over time. A report is published annually displaying the trends.
Technical
Assistance and Training Strategy - training is available accessing, understanding,
and using data, indicators, and the Vital Signs to enhance long-term neighborhood
improvement. This training concentrates on facilitating the use of the
Vital Signs in a "results-based approach to decision making"
process.
"One
Stop Shop" for neighborhood data - the first place to go for access
to the Vital Signs and other data about Baltimore and its neighborhoods
from a variety of sources in a user-friendly way. Alliance staff assist
users with using the Alliance website where numerous data and indicators
are available, as well as refer users to data sources if necessary. Access
Points throughout the city are established in order to provide greater
access to the Alliance's on-line resources for those who need assistance
or do not have internet access. These Access Points currently include
the public branch libraries, community centers, and some job training
centers. More will be added soon.
The work
of the Alliance enables you to:Understand
and have access to important neighborhood data and indicators is key to
making better-informed, strategic decisions to: Enhance
local community organizing strategies.
Develop effective neighborhood plans. Inform policy decisions. Target
resource investment. Set goals in neighborhoods and citywide. Designate
indicators to measure progress toward success.
History of the Alliance
The Alliance was born in 2000 after a two-year planning process where several citywide nonprofit organizations, city government agencies, neighborhoods, and foundations were gathered together by the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Since that time, the Alliance has grown to include many more groups and individuals, and more each day have come to consider themselves part of this growing Alliance - this movement toward well-informed decision making for change.
The Alliance designed its core functions based on the knowledge that Baltimore
needed a common way of understanding how our neighborhoods and overall
quality of life are changing over time. Baltimore needed a common threshold
from which to have discussions about what is best for changing conditions.
Baltimore needed a mechanism to hold itself, and all others who work,
live, play, and invest in its neighborhoods, accountable for moving in
the right direction. The Alliance works to fulfill these needs.