Reno County Food Insecurity Data Walk

Setting the Stage

Last week, we launched a data walk in Reno County, Kansas—putting real stories behind the numbers, and giving people a chance to physically walk through maps, infographics, and interactive displays that illuminate food access and insecurity in our communities.

The goal was simple: make data tangible. Instead of reading charts in a report, participants could stroll from station to station and see infographics and interactive displays unfold the story of food access across their community.

We deployed seven infographic banners and two digital interactive displays on 55-inch smartboards. Each banner tackled a different dimension: rates of food insecurity, geographic barriers, population subgroups, access to grocery stores, and more. The interactive displays brought data alive. Users could zoom in on neighborhoods to see risk levels or food access density in their own backyard.

Behind the Scenes: What Went Into It

Putting a data walk together isn’t just slapping maps and data on banners. Here’s how we did it:

Data sourcing & validation: We pulled data from USDA, County Health Rankings, and local surveys then cross-checked this information.
Design decisions: We had to balance clarity vs. nuance. Some data is messy; we decided where to simplify and where to show uncertainty.
Mapping & interactivity: The digital displays use GIS layers, such as risk layers, store locations, population densities. Users could toggle themes, zoom in, or filter by demographic groups.
Logistics & placement: We worked with the local health department to pick durable banners and plan the flow and conversation so people could naturally move from risk to access to solutions.

What Mattered Most to Me

I grew up food insecure as a child. This is the reason I always think about the people behind the numbers and how to represent their stories through data, including integrating my story with the data.

Data becomes personal when you can see your own block or neighborhood. The walk helps people say, “Hey, that’s my street,” or “That is where I grew up.”
Patterns get revealed when you physically move through space. Clusters of high-risk neighborhoods, food deserts, and access gaps jump out visually.
Community insights matter. In several stops, participants noted local conditions, such as transportation barriers. They also provided feedback and ideas on what agencies can do to help address food access and food insecurity.

View more information about Data Walks