NKCA will conduct an introductory workshop that provides an overview of the basic concepts of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and how geographic information can be used in a planning, research and policy environment. There will be a demonstration of the GIS research tools of NCKA's website (nkca.ucla.edu) that makes demographic, socioeconomic, housing, and lending data available to the public. Finally, participants will be instructed on how to develop personal profiles on the site which allow them to conduct their own analysis, develop community profiles, and import outside data sources.