Our community data journey.
Founded: 2015
Founders: Patrick Marcotte & Regina Maendler
ChicagoData.org was created by the Chicago Community Data Project to help community leaders and advocates understand and visualize local data. The project gained significant momentum when it was used by the 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman's team to identify which methods and strategies most effectively helped increase safety in Chicago neighborhoods.
This groundbreaking work demonstrated the power of data visualization in civic action, providing evidence-based insights that directly influenced policy decisions. The success of ChicagoData.org proved that accessible, well-designed data tools could drive meaningful change in communities.
ChicagoData.org's vision and methodology became the foundation for what evolved into ChartPeople, as we expanded our mission to serve communities beyond Chicago with the same commitment to data clarity and civic impact.
Created: March 2020 | Maintained: Through end of global data collection
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ChartPeople rapidly developed comprehensive dashboards to help the public understand and track coronavirus trends. These dashboards became a trusted resource for tens of thousands of users seeking clear, standardized information about COVID-19 rates across the nation.
From March 2020 through the end of global data collection efforts, these dashboards served as a vital tool for public understanding, providing transparent, evidence-based insights during an unprecedented crisis. While some dashboards remain available as historical records, they represent an important chapter in ChartPeople's commitment to using data for public good during critical moments.
