Neighbourhood

WEST TOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD IN CHICAGO.

Review the neighborhood and answer the questions below regarding West town.

Race and Ethnicity: Data and/or a description of the community demographics for the community.  Be sure to identify any specific data that helps support the existence of your identified health problem or that may impact your health promotion project.  Evaluate the racial identity of the community (e.g. is the area well integrated?) Consider the following questions.  Are there indices of ethnicity, various types of ethnic food stores, ethnic churches, private schools related to ethnicity, signs and information in a language other than English?

Culture: Analyze the cultural data and assess the cultural dynamics within the community that influence the community’s health beliefs or health status.   

Religion :  Include the various types of churches and places of worship.  It would be beneficial to learn the number of available churches in the area, all of the different denominations and representation of differing religions, and the number of churches in a ratio comparison to the number of people in the community.

Politics :  Determine if the community is very swayed politically or is predominantly of one party affiliation.  Identify evidence of political activism, such as campaign signs, political billboards, or other evidence of political influence.

Safety: Is the community safe? Environmental aspects or physical aspects that may compromise safety (e.g. community decay, traffic safety issues, road and sidewalk accessibility and quality, crime rates, lighting, safe drinking water, air quality).  How do the community safety issues impact your identified community problem or issue? 

Signs of community decay:  Identify any areas of the community in which there is evidence of decline of resources, or community decay?

1. Abandoned cars, 

1. Visible trash in the street, 

1. Levels of noticeable pollution, 

1. Abandoned houses, businesses, and unfinished structures (boarded up buildings),

1. Increased numbers of homeless or panhandlers