Explore the New Boreal Waters Community Dashboard

A regional tool to make community data more accessible, understandable and useful

We are excited to introduce the Boreal Waters Community Dashboard, a new interactive tool designed to help community members, nonprofits, funders, policymakers and partners better understand the trends shaping our region.

Developed in partnership with mySidewalk, the dashboard brings together a wide range of trusted community data into one accessible space. Organized by county and key focus areas, the dashboard allows users to explore trends, compare information and better understand the dynamics affecting communities across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

The goal is simple: make community data easier to find, easier to understand and easier to use.

Explore the Community Dashboard

Why Boreal Waters Invested in This Tool

Across our region, nonprofits and community partners are doing important work to respond to complex community needs. At the same time, they are increasingly asked to demonstrate need, measure impact and tell compelling, data-informed stories, especially when pursuing competitive funding opportunities at the state and national level.

But too often, valuable information exists across multiple sources. Gathering, interpreting and applying that data can be time-consuming and difficult, especially for organizations already stretched thin.

Boreal Waters recognized a growing need for clear, up-to-date regional data that could support decision-making, strengthen storytelling and deepen community impact. In response, we invested in the development of a regional community dashboard in partnership with mySidewalk.

By creating a centralized and accessible tool, we hope to make it easier for partners across the region to use data in ways that support their work, strengthen collaboration and inform shared priorities.

What You’ll Find in the Dashboard

The Boreal Waters Community Dashboard includes data across key focus areas connected to community well-being, including:

• Youth and Education
• Health and Wellness
• Prosperity and Opportunity
• Housing and Neighborhoods
• Older Adults and People with Disabilities
• Community and Civic Vibrancy

Within the interactive dashboard, users can explore information by county, compare trends and better understand how different factors are shaping communities across the Boreal Waters region.

The data featured in the dashboard is sourced from trusted national, state and regional datasets and is updated on an ongoing basis as those sources are refreshed. This helps ensure the information remains current, relevant and useful over time.

A Tool Built to Grow

This dashboard is currently in its first iteration, which means it will continue to evolve.

We are still learning how the tool can best support our region, and we welcome feedback from community members and partners as we continue to improve it. Some data may be expanded or refined over time, and we are especially mindful that publicly available data does not always fully reflect the experiences, priorities or sovereignty of Tribal Nations and Native communities.

Have a question, suggestion or idea for how this tool could better support your work?

Share feedback or ask a question

Explore the Dashboard

We invite you to spend time with the Boreal Waters Community Dashboard. Click through the focus areas, explore your county, compare trends and consider what questions the data raises for you.

This work is ongoing, and we are excited to continue learning alongside our partners and communities.

Together, we can use data, stories and shared understanding to support stronger decision-making, deeper impact and a more vibrant future for our region.

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Questions about the Community Dashboard? Please contact info@borealwaters.org and we'll connect you with a team member.