State of the Region Progress Report 2002:
Equity in Buffalo-Niagara

The third State of the Region report focuses on the issue of Equity in the Buffalo Niagara region while monitoring and updating performance indicators from the project's other topic areas. The report’s Equity analysis poses a provocative question: “How fair, just and equitable is our region for people of different age, gender, race, ethnicity, income levels, places of residence, disability status, sexual orientation and religion?” This question is addressed through the report’s two main components—indicator updates and a narrative on the region’s current and historical Equity challenges:

Indicator Updates:

The 2002 Progress Report includes 39 indicators, with all Equity indicators updated, 10 new Equity-related indicators introduced, and 19 indicators from other topic areas updated.

Regional Overview:

The 2002 Regional Overview reviews the Buffalo Niagara region's demographic, economic, geographic, and political attributes. Updated from the initial 1999 Regional Overview, it is intended to serve as a foundation of understanding for the State of the Region's performance assessments.

Download a PDF of the 2002 Regional Overview

Booklet:

The report includes a 54-page narrative on how the region has addressed issues of equity, both historically and in view of contemporary challenges. The booklet consists of the following sections:

• Listing of Updated Equity and New Equity-related Indicators
Download a PDF of the Listing of Updated Equity and New Equity-related Indicators


• Demographic Snapshot: This section looks at how the region's demographics (population, age and gender composition, patterns of immigration and ethnic diversity, and racial/ethnic composition) have changed over the past century.
Download a PDF of the Demographic Snapshot


• A Century of Equity: This section presents narratives outlining a century of various milestones for eight different communities in the region.
Download a PDF of A Century of Equity


• Western New York Views on Equity: This section summarizes the findings of a survey that the University at Buffalo Regional Institute conducted in April 2002. The survey asked 1,000 Western New York residents about their perceptions of equity, intergroup relations, and discrimination in the region.
Download a PDF of Western New York Views on Equity


• Cross-Cutting Challenges: This section examines three key equity challenges: 1) equity in resource distribution; 2) equity in economic and educational opportunity, and 3) equity in representation and access to decision making. Each cross-cutting challenge includes the Nature and Scope of the Challenge, Relevant Indicator Findings, Data Needed to Further Inform this Challenge, Achievements, and Action Steps.
Download a PDF of Cross-Cutting Challenges


• Data Sources and Notes: Reviews all sources and methodology referenced in the report.
Download a PDF of Data Sources and Notes

Download a PDF of the 2002 Equity Booklet