The Atlanta Community Mapping and Research Center (ACMRC)

What is Community Geography? Community geography is a process, set of methods, and collaborative framework that utilizes spatial thinking and geographic approaches which enable  college and university level academic institutions to effectively partner with communities for engagement in inclusive, mutually beneficial, shared research experiences designed to understand and visualize the wants, needs, and future visions of willing communities.

Mission Statement:  The Atlanta Community Mapping and Research Center or ACMRC at Georgia State University seeks to cultivate a collaborative group committed to applying spatial thinking and geographic methods to community-based research initiatives in partnership with non-profit organizations, public agencies or local governments throughout metropolitan Atlanta.  The ACMRC is dedicated to working with residents and other neighborhood level stakeholders in unique community-university partnerships to utilize spatial thinking and geographic methods (e.g. mapping, Geographic Information Systems or GIS, participatory action research, field data collection, focus groups, and interviews) to cooperatively address the needs and desires of community groups, neighborhood institutions, and residents. 

Objectives:  Within our mission, and through the collaborative applications of spatial thinking and geographic methods with our diverse community partners and residents, the ACMRC has the following objectives:

·         Objective 1: Identify and raise awareness about community-defined assets, needs, and future visions.

·         Objective 2: Provide geographic-based research tools, data, and support to aide community groups and residents in better understanding the spatial dimensions of their assets, needs, and future visions.

·         Objective 3: Support community building and neighborhood organizing, through the application of spatial thinking and geographic methods, to affect positive community-defined change and self-determined development.

·         Objective 4: Develop free and open-source geographic resources, maps, multimedia, and datasets in collaboration with local community-based and/or non-profit organizations, residents, and/or government entities for intentional and transparent information sharing.

·         Objective 5: Cultivate, build upon, and strengthen a collaborative and sustainable network of organizations, residents, researchers, and practitioners with shared interests in utilizing spatial thinking and geographic methods to help Atlanta communities and neighborhoods better understand themselves.

·         Objective 6: Provide meaningful real-world learning opportunities for students (university and K-12 level) to engage in community-based research and partnerships using spatial thinking and geographic methods.

·         Objective 7: Support the empowerment of marginalized residents and communities through the use of mapping technologies, geography, and university partnerships.

·         Objective 8: Support training opportunities and periodic workshops to equip interested community residents, practitioners, and local NGOs with skills in geographic methods and applications.