Wealth + Work Futures Lab | Drexel University Lindy Institute

Community Loss & Hope Index

"Grief as Sacred Data: Loss and Hope as Design"

Mapping community grief across Philadelphia — because loss isn't random, it's place-based and persistent.

Section 01

Where Loss Lives

Loss indicators by ZIP code — select an indicator to explore

What This Means

The same neighborhoods appear at the top of every loss indicator. This geographic concentration means targeted interventions can reach the communities that need them most.

Section 02

The Bereavement Gap

42 Years of Childhood Loss by Race (1980-2022) — hover over the chart to explore

1.5x – 2x
Higher bereavement rate for Black children
42
Years of persistent disparity
1.4% 1.2% 1.0% 0.8% 0.6% 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Peak: 1989 (1.93x disparity) COVID-19 impact (2020)
Black or African American
White

What This Means

For 42 consecutive years, Black children have been 1.5 to 2 times more likely to lose a parent or sibling. This isn't a recent crisis — it's a structural pattern that persists across generations.

Section 03

The Compounding Effect

Multiple loss indicators concentrated in the same neighborhoods

All Indicators by Neighborhood
Rates per 1,000 residents (2023)
12 9 6 3 0 Kensington 19134 Strawberry M. 19132 Nicetown 19140 SW Philly 19143
Incarceration
Overdose
Homicide
Foster Care
Early Death
Overdose Deaths: Then vs. Now
Change by ZIP code (2012 → 2023)
Kensington
19134
2.1
5.59
+166%
Nicetown
19140
1.8
4.82
+168%
Strawberry M.
19132
1.5
4.15
+177%
Frankford
19124
1.3
3.78
+191%
SW Philly
19143
1.2
3.45
+188%
Chestnut Hill
19118
0.2
0.42
+110%
2012
2023

What This Means

In high-loss neighborhoods, every indicator is elevated. Residents face higher rates of incarceration, overdose, homicide, foster care, AND early death simultaneously. This is the compounding effect — loss begets loss.

Section 04

2023 At A Glance

Key statistics and highest-loss communities

19134
Highest Loss ZIP
1,224
Overdose Deaths
7,019
In State Prison
1,998
Foster Care Entries
69x
Incarceration Gap
Top 5 Highest Loss ZIP Codes
1
Kensington
ZIP 19134
0.72
Loss Index
2
Nicetown-Tioga
ZIP 19140
0.62
Loss Index
3
Strawberry Mansion
ZIP 19132
0.58
Loss Index
4
Frankford
ZIP 19124
0.55
Loss Index
5
Southwest Philadelphia
ZIP 19143
0.51
Loss Index

What This Means

The same five neighborhoods appear at the top of every loss indicator. Place-based interventions targeting these communities could have outsized impact.