Where Is the Closest Health Clinic? YouthMappers Map Their Communities Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

YouthMappers chapters are both locally and globally situated, fostering a confluence of community input, GIS skill sets, subject-matter expertise, and creativity that drives progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Examining Hudson Valley Mappers’ and Gaston Berger University YouthMappers’ community mapping projects in parallel offers rich insights on open mapping for SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being and highlights the value of SDG 4 Quality Education. Both YouthMappers chapters collaborated with local partners to map health facilities and other community resources; the resulting maps and data filled critical information gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project outcomes underscore the unique niche that the YouthMappers network occupies in the open mapping world.