NorthStar of GIS: People of African Descent in GIS

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NorthStar of GIS: People of African Descent in GIS

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Support for NorthStar Of GIS will help Black students learn about opportunities in GIS, geography, and STEM
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NorthStar is a community group working to advance intersectional racial justice, equity, and belonging of people of Black / African descent in GIS, geography, and STEM.

10/02/2026

The future of geospatial is already taking shape, and the next generation deserves opportunities to lead it. 🌍✨

Emerging geo professionals bring new perspectives, ideas, and experiences that can strengthen the industry. With the right support, they can build meaningful careers, advocate for greater representation, and help shape what comes next.

Your gift helps NorthStar of GIS open doors and create opportunities for emerging professionals to grow, connect, and make their mark across the geospatial community.

🚀 Invest in the people who will shape the future of geo.

Give today: https://northstarofgis.org/donate

10/01/2026

Can GIS map something you can’t physically point to?

Yes, and that’s part of what makes GIS so powerful. Concepts like healthcare access, internet connectivity, community sentiment, and political participation may not exist as physical objects, but they can still have geographic patterns.

By connecting information to places, neighborhoods, or regions, GIS can help us visualize where opportunities, challenges, and experiences differ across communities.

💡 Not everything we map is something we can see. What other non-physical patterns would you want to explore through geography?

09/29/2026

💡 Tuesday Truths

The stories we tell shape how our communities are seen, understood, and remembered.

As Aisha Jenkins reminds us, when we don’t tell our own stories, we leave room for others to define our experiences for us. Owning our narratives means preserving our perspectives, celebrating our contributions, and ensuring our voices are part of the larger story.

🎙️ If you missed this episode of NorthStar GAZE, take a listen and explore more of the conversation and insights from Aisha Jenkins.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://podcast.northstarofgis.org
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ppDm6IxMWmtnfyFQk2Uuq?si=c8fdd91db2da45f4
🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42Wnmf7
🔗 Amazon Audible: https://adbl.co/3ThVIFZ

💭 What story about your community, your work, or your experience deserves to be told in your own words?

09/28/2026

🚀 Monday Momentum

Making a difference doesn’t always require a massive platform or a sweeping change. Sometimes, it starts by recognizing where you already have influence and choosing to act.

As Shannon Bartley reminds us, meaningful progress comes from identifying the actions within our reach. Whether it’s through our work, our communities, or the people around us, each of us has opportunities to create positive change.

🎙️ If you missed this episode of NorthStar GAZE, take a listen and explore more of the conversation and insights from Shannon Bartley.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://podcast.northstarofgis.org
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ppDm6IxMWmtnfyFQk2Uuq?si=c8fdd91db2da45f4
🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42Wnmf7
🔗 Amazon Audible: https://adbl.co/3ThVIFZ

💭 Where do you have influence right now, and what action can you take this week to make a difference?

09/27/2026

🌿 Sunday Reset

Data has the greatest impact when it serves a purpose beyond the numbers.

As Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds reminds us, collecting and understanding data isn’t simply about having more information. It’s about using that knowledge to strengthen communities, identify opportunities, address inequities, and help create the conditions for Black communities to thrive.

🎙️ If you missed this episode of NorthStar GAZE, take a listen and explore more of the conversation and insights from Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://podcast.northstarofgis.org
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ppDm6IxMWmtnfyFQk2Uuq?si=c8fdd91db2da45f4
🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42Wnmf7
🔗 Amazon Audible: https://adbl.co/3ThVIFZ

💭 How can we use data more intentionally to help communities thrive?

09/25/2026

🔄 Friday Reframe

Some of the biggest challenges we face aren’t impossible to solve; they require us to decide that solving them deserves our attention.

As Dr. Abraham Liddell reminds us, meaningful change often comes down to priorities. When we choose to focus our time, resources, knowledge, and collective effort on the problems that matter, we create more opportunities to move from recognizing challenges to building solutions.

🎙️ If you missed this episode of NorthStar GAZE, take a listen and explore more of the conversation and insights from Dr. Abraham Liddell.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://podcast.northstarofgis.org
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ppDm6IxMWmtnfyFQk2Uuq?si=c8fdd91db2da45f4
🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42Wnmf7
🔗 Amazon Audible: https://adbl.co/3ThVIFZ

💭 What challenge could we make meaningful progress on if we collectively chose to make it a priority?

09/22/2026

Why can two maps of the exact same place tell completely different stories? 🗺️

A map isn’t simply a picture of a location. The projection used, the data included, the scale, how information is grouped, and even design choices can all influence what we notice and what we don’t.

That’s why understanding how a map was created is just as important as understanding what it shows. The choices behind the map can shape how we interpret a place, pattern, or issue.

🔎 Next time you see a map, look beyond what’s displayed and ask: What choices were made to tell this particular story?

09/21/2026

🚀 Monday Momentum

Momentum starts when we stop waiting for someone else to solve the problems we can see.

As Kevin Carrington reminds us, recognizing that something needs to be done comes with an opportunity to take ownership, find a solution, and move the work forward. Progress often begins with someone willing to ask, “What can I do about it?”

🎙️ If you missed this episode of NorthStar GAZE, take a listen and explore more of the conversation and insights from Kevin Carrington.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://podcast.northstarofgis.org
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ppDm6IxMWmtnfyFQk2Uuq?si=c8fdd91db2da45f4
🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42Wnmf7
🔗 Amazon Audible: https://adbl.co/3ThVIFZ

💭 What is one problem you can take ownership of and begin addressing this week?

09/20/2026

🌿 Sunday Reset

Representation in data matters because data shapes how communities are understood, supported, and ultimately served.

As Karen Bett shares, her work centers on helping citizens and communities see themselves reflected in data. When people can recognize their experiences in the information being collected and shared, data becomes more than numbers; it becomes a tool for visibility, understanding, and meaningful change.

🎙️ If you missed this episode of NorthStar GAZE, take a listen and explore more of the conversation and insights from Karen Bett.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://podcast.northstarofgis.org
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ppDm6IxMWmtnfyFQk2Uuq?si=c8fdd91db2da45f4
🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42Wnmf7
🔗 Amazon Audible: https://adbl.co/3ThVIFZ

💭 How can we make sure communities are truly seen and represented in the data that shapes decisions about their futures?

09/18/2026

What happens when a community doesn’t show up in the data? 🗺️

When people, places, and experiences are missing from datasets, their needs can be overlooked in the decisions that shape their communities. From planning and public services to funding and resources, representation in data helps create a more complete picture of who and what needs attention.

Good data isn’t just about collecting more information; it’s about making sure the information reflects the communities it represents.

🔎 Maps can reveal a lot, but what they leave out can matter just as much. What do you think gets missed when communities aren’t fully represented in the data?

Address

2400 6th St NW
Washington D.C., DC
20059

Website

https://gisnorthstar.org/, https://MelanatedAndMapping.org/

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