Woman builds map of local minority businesses

Jessa Challa created "Jessa GIS" to help others support minority-owned businesses.

GRAND RAPIDSWOMAN IS TRYING TO CREATE ABETTER COMMUNITY, BY USING HERSKILLS AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER TOBUILD INTERACTIVE MAPS THATCELEBRATEWEST MICHIGAN.

FOX17'S MARISAOBERLE HAS THE STORYTHIS IS THE FIRST MAP BUILT BYJESSACHILDS.

IT HIGHLIGHTS MINORITYOWNED BUSINESSES IN AND AROUNDGRAND RAPIDS.THE PROJECT IS JUST STARTING,BUT SHE HOPES IT PROVIDESRESOURCES THAT MAKE IT EASIERFOR HER COMMUNITY TO SUPPORTTHEIR COMMUITNY.JESSA CHILDS IS MAPPING OUT HERIMPACT.

16:25:40 "I think thatour brains, as humans,can make quicker, more efficientdecisions if we can visualizedata in different ways."THIS SUMMER, THE GRAND RAPIDSWOMAN LAUNCHED "GIS JESS" -ANEFFORT IN WHICH SHE UTILIZESHER ABILITIES AS ASOFTWARE ENGINEER - WHOSPECIALIZES IN GEOGRAPHICALINFORMATION SYSTEMS - TO MAKEINTERACTIVE MAPS.

THIS ONE,WHICH LAUNCHED NEAR THEBEGINNING OF AUGUST, FEATURESMINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES IN THEAREA, BREAKING IT DOWN BYWHAT'S OFFERED AND RACE.16:29:08 "If I'm on my way to afriend'sbirthday party, instead of goingto a big grocery store orsomething that's likeseems convienent, I can say,'Oh, this locally owned businessis on my way, I can just grabthe gift there.'" THE LIST ISEVOLVING, BUT SO FAR INCLUDESJUST OVER 17516:298:0 "If I'm on my way to afriend's birthday party, insteadof going to a biggrocery stor oer somethingthat's like seems convienent, Ican say, 'Oh, thislocally owned busines sis on myway, I can just grab the giftthere.'" THE LIST IS EVOLVING,BUT SO FAR INCLUDES JUST OVER175 RESTAURANTS, SHOPS,N ADSERVICES.

JESSA SAYS AS ABI-RACIAL, BLACK WOMAN WHO CO-OWNS A MINORITYBUSINESS, SHE SYMPATHIZES WITHTHEIR EXPERIENCES.STUDIES AND RESAERCH INDICATESMINORITY ENTREPRENEURS OFTENFACE RACISM AND DIFFICULTY INFINDING FUNDING.

IN THE NEARFUTURE, SHEWANTS TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDEOTHERPOPULATIONS TOO, LIKE MAPPINGOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ORPLACES LED BY WOMEN.

16:25:54 "Ijust thought that being ableto utilize GIS to make thesemaps tovisualize, 'Oka, ythis is wrheethings are in mycommunity, I can make moreinformeddecisions on where I want to putmy money,where I want to go, who I wantto support." JESSA HOPING ITENGAGES WEST MICHIGAN IN NEWWAYS.16:35:10 "I think it willinspire other people to say orto see how we can see ourcommunity through differentlenses."BUSINESS CAN BE ADDED TO THATLIST BY FILLING OUT A FORM ONTHEMAP'S WEBSITE.

TO DO THAT ORCHECK OUT THE BUSINESSES ONTHERE, VISIT FOX17ONLINE.COM INSTUDIO MO FOX17NEWSTHE 50TH ANNUAL MS. WHEELCHAIR