Worlds Apart
An Update on Gaps in Life Expectancy in Central IndianaSAVI Talks – August 26, 2021
In 2015, the IU Fairbanks School of Public Health (FSPH) and The Polis Center published an issue brief, Worlds Apart: Gaps in Life Expectancy in the Indianapolis Metro Area, that brought to light a 14+ year gap in life expectancy between the longest and shortest living communities in Central Indiana. Because of the significant interest and community discussion that the report generated, we have collaborated to update our analysis. We will see which communities gained or lost life expectancy over a 10-year span (prior to COVID-19), and we’ll compare life expectancy at different ages across the life course to see how patterns differ.
In this August 26 SAVI Talks event, we will also share key findings from our deep dive with SAVI data examining underlying social factors and life expectancy in Central Indiana communities. Join us to be informed and help spur community action–because everyone deserves the opportunity for a long and healthy life.
Other partners include The Polis Center, SAVI, WFYI, and the Central Indiana Senior Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Inc

Articles and Story Maps
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The Lasting Impacts of Segregation and Redlining
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Socioeconomic factors explain why some New York ZIP codes were hit hardest by COVID-19
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The Inequalities Behind COVID-19 Disparities for African Americans in Indianapolis
COVID-19 positivity rate is 1.8 times higher for blacks than for whites. We explore how systemic inequities put many black individuals at higher risk for getting the virus, having a serious case, and suffering from the economic impacts compared to white residents.
Authors
Tess Weathers
IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
Karen Comer
The Polis Center
Jay Colbert
The Polis Center
Matt Nowlin
The Polis Center
Jeramy Townsley
The Polis Center
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