Cora Greenberg
Photo credit: Paula Markowitz Wittlin

Rarely do 75 educators, politicians, social service providers and nonprofit workers gather to celebrate the release of a book. On April 24, the White Plains YWCA hosted a press conference hailing the publication of a compendium offering 432 indices of data about Westchester’s children. Health, education, economics, city-by-city demographics and other parameters are delineated to provide a usable cache of information for planning and advocacy. Westchester Children’s Association Executive Director Cora Greenberg introduced the book, “Westchester Children by the Numbers 2008,” saying “this is just the beginning; numbers are important, but they won't help children unless we know how to use them and how to understand them.” Data ambassadors are being trained to speak to community groups about utilizing this newly available trove of information.

Tom Kyle, a Westchester Children’s Association board member, explained that the goal is to take this standardized repository of data online into a searchable database. Limarie Cabrera, director of data analysis, presented a series of charts demonstrating how viewing statistics from different angles can inform policy decisions. “There are thousands of people out there who need our help...this book is fantastic,” offered Bill Ryan, chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. After recognizing County Legislator Lois Bronz’s quarter century of commitment in the public arena to health and welfare, he lauded “By the Numbers” as a resource for securing vital funding.

County Executive Andy Spano opined, “Numbers are dry, but when you aggregate them, they tell many stories.” Twenty-one percent of White Plains residents are under the age of eighteen; thirteen percent of those live below the poverty line. With statistics so available, a challenge is presented to our society to do something about improving them.

The complete text is available for viewing and downloading at wca4kids.org/publications_special.htm .