Wilder Research has just launched Minnesota Compass, which offers a host of data and other resources in a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate, one-stop web site.
This new initiative builds on the prior success of Twin Cities Compass, a similar project for the 7-county metro region. Minnesota Compass measures quality of life in communities around Minnesota, providing data, commentary and insight from nonpartisan experts, and links to a variety of local community initiatives.
Wilder reports that Minnesota Compass is a central, go-to source of data, strategies, and resources for action by all sectors: government, business, nonprofit community organizations, and concerned individuals:
“Minnesota is changing dramatically – our residents are aging, communities are becoming more diverse, local economies are evolving. These trends will have a major impact on everyone who lives here in the coming years.
Minnesota Compass helps communities across Minnesota assess and improve their quality of life. It’s a non-partisan initiative which measures progress for Minnesota’s counties, regions, and the state as a whole.”
Among the project funders is MCF member Blandin Foundation. Matt Rezac, senior program officer – public policy and engagement at Blandin, endorses the new information hub: “In working to improve our community, we must be informed by the best information available, but the specific ways of applying that information need to be of our own making. Community context matters, and no one knows it better than community members.”
Nine foundations (all MCF members), including Blandin, support Minnesota Compass: Bush Foundation, Initiative Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, Northland Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, and West Central Initiative. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation provided support for the database.
Minnesota Compass has information and ideas for action on aging, civic engagement, early childhood, economy and workforce, education, environment, health, housing, public safety, and transportation. It includes information for cities, counties, regions and the state as a whole.
Wilder Research is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit research and evaluation groups dedicated to practical research to improve the community’s understanding of major social issues and identify effective ways to strengthen individuals, families and communities. It is part of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in Saint Paul.
