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Neighborhood Associations
The percentage of residents that live in neighborhoods that do not have an active neighborhood association in the City of St. Louis
Black residents are more than twice as likely as white residents to not have a neighborhood association in their neighborhood.
A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in outcomes. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.
For Neighborhood Associations, a score of 100 — a score reflecting racial equity — would mean black and white residents are equally likely to not have neighborhood associations. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal: we also want to improve outcomes for all.
More Information
What does this indicator measure?
Neighborhood Associations measures the percentage of residents that live in neighborhoods that do not have an active neighborhood association in the City of St. Louis. Neighborhood associations are associations that organize around the interests of residents. Associations formed to organize around the interests of businesses or landlords are not included. In 2018, there were 36,313 residents of neighborhoods without an active neighborhood association, representing 11.5% of the city’s population.
Neighborhood Associations analysis
Residents without an active neighborhood association in St. Louis City.
| All | Black | White | Disparity Ratio | Equity Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents of neighborhoods without active neighborhood associations | 36,313 | 23,918 | 9,652 | - | - |
| Population | 316,030 | 150,948 | 135,068 | - | - |
| Percent of residents without a neighborhood association | 11.5% | 15.8% | 7.1% | 2.217 to 1 | 39 |
Data Source: City of St. Louis, 2018. Neighborhood population calculated from American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2012-2016.
Data Note: The list of neighborhood associations used to calculate this metric was produced by aggregating lists kept by various city departments and checked by staff at Forward Through Ferguson, the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO). Population estimates were calculated using census tracts assigned to planning neighborhoods. The planning neighborhoods without neighborhood associations include: Carr Square, DeBaliviere Place, Kingsway West, Mark Twain, Midtown, North Riverfront, Patch, The Ville, and Wells Goodfellow. Additional neighborhoods without neighborhood associations (but for which we lack population estimates) include Columbus Square, Covenant Blu-Grand, Mark Twain I-70, North Pointe, and Wydown Skinker.
What does this analysis mean?
Black residents are more than twice as likely as white residents to live in a neighborhood without an active neighborhood association. There are 23,918 black residents who don’t have a neighborhood association, or 15.8% of black residents. In comparison, only 9,652 white residents are without a neighborhood association, or 7.1% of white residents. If access to neighborhood associations were equitable, there would be 13,201 more black residents represented by neighborhood associations.
Why do Neighborhood Associations matter?
Neighborhood associations allow neighborhood residents to become organized and represent their interests more effectively at the city level, which facilitates resident-driven community improvement. Neighborhood associations can also function as a way to disseminate information back to residents.
Which Calls to Action from the Ferguson Commission report are linked with this indicator?
While there are no Calls to Action from the Ferguson Commission related to neighborhood associations, the report calls for ensuring communities' ability to advocate for equity.
Questions for further investigation
- Why is there racial disparity in Neighborhood Associations?
- What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in Neighborhood Associations?
- What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in Neighborhood Associations?
How can I learn more about this issue?
The St. Louis Association of Community Organizations provides support for neighborhood associations.
