Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 “Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically states that ‘No person in the United States shall on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination

under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.’ ”2

Rhode Island ResIdents wIth lImIted-englIsh PRofIcIency (leP)

Per FHWA:1 there are three fundamental environmental justice principles:

• To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.

• To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process.

• To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations.

Figure 1 is a map identifying the limited-English proficiency population in the state. An American Community Survey dataset was utilized which estimates the population aged 5 and older who speak English “less than very well.” The geography is broken into census tracts. Tracts with a LEP population greater than or equal to the Rhode Island average of 8.7% are highlighted in color. Municipalities showing high concentrations of LEP populations are Providence, East Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, and parts of Bristol, RI.

De

fin

itio

ns

Census Data BulletinAugust 2015

Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, One Capitol Hill, Third Floor, Providence, RI 02908

Planning Information Center

Population Focus: Environmental Justice and title VI Populations in Rhode Island the Value of Data in PlanningPlanners and practitioners evaluate several types of data to understand the composition of communities. Planners use demographic information, like decennial census data and American Community Survey estimates, to better understand the characteristics of a community. Demographic information can include data pertaining to population counts and trends, age, race and ethnicity, income data, residents with disabilities, residents with limited-English Proficiency (LEP), and more. Planners routinely utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping to visualize trends and patterns. Using Census and American Community Survey data, planners can take statistical estimates associated with a census geography, like a tract or block

group, and create maps to identify populations.

Environmental Justiceand title VI As part of its overall transportation planning process, the Statewide Planning Program, working together with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, identifies and maps environmental justice and Title VI populations, including minority, low income and limited English proficiency (LEP) populations. This information is used to ensure that the benefits and burdens of the state’s transportation investments are equitably distributed across the state. For an overview of Title VI and Environmental Justice, and how each relates to the transportation planning process, please visit the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) website.1

Figure 1: RI LEP Population

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/overview/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/overview/

For further information about RI State Data Center resources, contact Vincent Flood at vincent.flood@doa.ri.gov or

Kirsten Bryan at kirsten.bryan@doa.ri.gov.

S o u r c e s 1 FHWA: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/overview/

2 FHWA: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/civilrights/programs/tvi.cfm 3 Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/methods/definitions.html

Figure 2 utilizes Census tract level demographic data and highlights tracts with a minority population greater than or equal to 23.6%, the statewide average. The Census Bureau defines “ minority” as the population that reported their race and ethnicity as something other than non-Hispanic White alone. The largest concentration of minorities are located within the cities of Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, East Providence and Cranston. There are also high concentrations of minorities in Woonsocket, Newport and Middletown.

Exeter

Foster

Coventry

Scituate

Burrillville

Glocester

Hopkinton

Richmond

Warwick

Tiverton

South Kingstown

Westerly

Cranston

West Greenwich

Charlestown

Smithfield

Johnston

North Kingstown

Lincoln

Cumberland

Providence

Bristol

Little Compton

North Smithfield

Portsmouth

Middletown

East Greenwich

Newport

Pawtucket

East Providence

Warren

Jamestown

Block Island

Narragansett

Woonsocket

Barrington

West Warwick

North Providence

Central Falls

Providence

Cranston

Lincoln

Pawtucket

East Providence

Johnston

North Providence

Smithfield

Central Falls

Cumberland

BarringtonWarwick

Providence

Cranston

Lincoln

Pawtucket

East Providence

Johnston

North Providence

Smithfield

Central Falls

Cumberland

0 5 102.5Miles

:Source: 2010 Census Census Tracts 2010

Percent Minority

At or Above Statewide Avg.

Rhode Island % Minority is 23.6%

0.0 - 23.5

23.6 - 96.4

Exeter

Foster

Coventry

Scituate

Burrillville

Glocester

Hopkinton

Richmond

Warwick

Tiverton

South Kingstown

Westerly

Cranston

West Greenwich

Charlestown

Smithfield

Johnston

North Kingstown

Lincoln

Cumberland

Providence

Bristol

Little Compton

North Smithfield

Portsmouth

Middletown

East Greenwich

Newport

Pawtucket

East Providence

Warren

Jamestown

Block Island

Narragansett

Woonsocket

Barrington

West Warwick

North Providence

Central Falls

Providence

Lincoln

Cranston

Pawtucket

Johnston

East Providence

Smithfield

North Providence

Central Falls

Cumberland

Barrington

0 5 102.5Miles

:Source: ACS 2013 Census Tracts 2010

Percent Individualsbelow 200%

of Poverty Level

At or Above State Avg.

Rhode Island Avg.is 30%

0.0 - 29.9

30.0 - 81.4

Figure 3: Percent Below Poverty Level in RI

Census Data Bulletin : Planning Information CenterAugust 2015

Figure 2: Percent Minority in RI

Figure 3 utilizes a dataset from the American Community Survey which estimates the percentage of individuals living below 200% of the poverty level and highlights those tracts which are at or above the statewide average of 30%. As of 2013, the 200% threshold represented an income of approximately $23,800 per year for a single person living alone. The largest concentration of individuals living below the poverty level largely mirrors the concentration of the of high-minority areas in the state. For more information on Census poverty definitions, please visit their website.3

Mapping Rhode Island’s EJ and title VI Populations

Low-income PopulationMinority Population

Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, One Capitol Hill, Third Floor, Providence, RI 02908

mailto:Vincent.Flood%40doa.ri.gov?subject=RI%20Data%20Center%20Resourcesmailto:Kirsten.Bryan%40doa.ri.gov?subject=RI%20Data%20Center%20Resourceshttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/overview/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/civilrights/programs/tvi.cfmhttp://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/methods/definitions.htmlhttp://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/methods/definitions.html