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BNIA's data mission: Tracking city trends to build a better Baltimore

A 2018 aerial view of Baltimore and environs. The non-profit Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA), operating out of the University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute, strengthens Baltimore communities by providing their leadership with meaningful, accurate, and open data at the neighborhood level. (photo credit: Pi.1415926535 via Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0)
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A 2018 aerial view of Baltimore, Maryland and environs, looking northwest. For the past 20 years, the non-profit Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA), operating out of the University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute, has been strengthening the city's communities by providing leadership with meaningful, accurate, and open data at the neighborhood level. (photo credit: Pi.1415926535 via Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today on Midday, Jayne Miller, the former WBAL reporter and now an independent investigative journalist, begins a three-day stint here guest hosting for Tom Hall.

The latest US Census data show Baltimore City continues to lose population. The total number of city residents is 569,930, according to the latest count — a staggering, 40% decline since the 1950’s.

But inside those numbers are trends, stories and indicators that can help us better understand the profound changes happening in the city, and the region.

Jayne's guest today is Dr. Amanda Phillips de Lucas, the new director of the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance — Jacob France Institute. Each year, BNIA-JFI issues Baltimore's Vital Signs report, which tracks more than 150 indicators to take the pulse of neighborhood health and vitality.

The non-profit organization is housed at the University of Baltimore and for many years was led by Seema Iyer, who spearheaded BNIA's efforts to bring data science to bear on improving neighborhood governance in Baltimore. Last month, Dr. de Lucas was selected to take charge of the alliance's crucial mission of gathering and analyzing data to better understand the needs of the city’s diverse communities.

Amanda Phillips de Lucas joins Jayne in Studio A.

Dr. Amanda K. Phillips de Lucas is the director of the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance, part of The University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute (JFI). (photo credit BNIA)
Dr. Amanda K. Phillips de Lucas is the director of the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance, part of The University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute (JFI). As a writer and public speaker, her interests include urban highways, community activism, and environmental justice. (photo credit BNIA)

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Guest host Jayne Miller is an independent local journalist who retired in 2022 after 40 years as an investigative reporter for WBAL-TV 11 in Baltimore. She has frequently joined Midday host Tom Hall as a guest to share her valuable insights on city and state political developments.
Teria is a Supervising Producer on Midday.
Rob is a contributing producer for Midday.