Data for the Community with the Equity in Data Community of Practice
This article, about a group of Trinity College students that took an 87-page legal document and turned it into easy-to-read graphics that the people most affected by this agreement might be able to understand and interact with, caught the attention of many. These students conducted analysis and compiled charts to explain the progress of the Sheff v. O’Neill agreement. They also interviewed those they hoped would use the charts to ensure the information was clear to them.
For our June session, we had guests who supported this intriguing data work talk with us about the process they used and what they learned. Our guests include Jack Dougherty (Professor of Educational Studies at Trinity College), Sasha Davis (Policy Analyst, School + State Finance Project), and Patricia O’Rourke (PhD candidate at the UConn Neag School of Education). Read more about them at the end of this post. We hope you find this 60 minute discussion and presentation as useful as we did. And if you’d like to learn more, we hope you’ll join us at next month’s session of the Equity in Data Community of Practice.
Links and Resources Shared
Do No Harm with Data: Applying Equity Awareness in Data Visualization
Data Visualization Workshop (September, 2022 in Harford):
Data Storytelling Workshop (June 28, 2022)
Using Research Evidence to Address Segregation: A Racial Equity Perspective
Principles for Advancing Equitable Data Practice by Urban Institute
School + State Finance Project District & School Spending tool, and Covid-19 Relief Funding for Education tool
About the speakers
Victoria Asfalg
Victoria Asfalg is a current student at Trinity College majoring in Urban Studies with a focus in housing. She has worked on various data visualization projects alongside Prof. Jack Dougherty which can be found here and here. In her free time, Victoria can be found on the water with her crew team or volunteering in Hartford.
Jack Dougherty
Jack Dougherty is Professor and Director of the Educational Studies Program at Trinity College. He and his students use tools from digital history, data visualization, and web writing to explore the relationship between cities, suburbs, and schools in metropolitan Hartford, Connecticut. Jack received his B.A. in philosophy from Swarthmore College, taught high school social studies in Newark, New Jersey, then earned his Ph.D. in educational policy studies, with a minor in U.S. history, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At Trinity, he co-created the Liberal Arts Action Lab while serving as its first Faculty Director (2017-2020), and also led the team that launched the Center for Hartford Engagement and Research(CHER) while serving as its first Director (2018-2020). Learn more about his teaching, scholarship, and community engagement at https://jackdougherty.org.
Patricia O-Neill
Patricia O'Neill is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut's (UConn) Neag School of Education (Summer 2022). She holds graduate certificates from UConn in both Human Rights and Indigeneity, Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. For several years, she has been actively engaged in supporting strategic litigation and policy work, including intensive and sustained collaboration around the Sheff v. O’Neill landmark civil rights in education case and the national movement for racial justice in education. While educational equity has been the focus of her work at UConn, Patricia has also participated in collaborative efforts across interconnected issues in economic and racial justice, including housing, health, and criminal justice through the Dodd Center for Human Rights. Connecting research, policy, and practice is an integral part of her work, and she has extensive experience facilitating youth-centered programs connecting the arts, social justice, and political responsibility.
Sasha Davis
With a background in community organizing, program management, and education policy, Sasha Davis brings a unique perspective and invaluable experience to the work of the School and State Finance Project. As a Policy Analyst, Sasha helps research and develop policy proposals that advance the organization’s mission and goals. This work includes reviewing current academic and policy research, writing reports and policy briefings, and identifying best practices and possible solutions for addressing some of Connecticut’s toughest education funding and state finance challenges.
Prior to joining the School and State Finance Project, Sasha served as a community organizer and program manager for the Sheff Movement Coalition, which is a group of parents, students, educators, and community members working to ensure all students in the Hartford region have access to a quality integrated education. In this role, Sasha developed and oversaw a leadership program for middle and high school students to work on social issues in their schools, called School Based Advocacy Teams (SBATs).
Born and raised in Connecticut, Sasha is received her Master of Public Administration and a graduate certificate in Leadership and Public Management from the University of Connecticut. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Bay Path College.
You can learn more about the Equity in Data Community of Practice here or look through the resources that have been shared from our sessions. We meet monthly, and you can sign up to join us here (curiosity and interest in data are the only requirements!). If you are interested to learn more about CTData, check out what we do and the services we provide here. For training and tips on how to use data to inform your personal and professional life, register for one of our CTData Academy workshops or browse our blog. You can keep up with us by subscribing to the CTData newsletter and following us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.