Bridge The Data Gap
Session Schedule
Conference Agenda
Plenary Session Descriptions
Bridging the Data Gap for Black Wealth and Economic Justice
How can we fill the data gap so that we can move the needle on increasing black wealth and economic justice? That is the question that launched the Black Wealth Data Center. Natalie Evens Harris, Director of the Black Wealth Data Center, will explore the gaps that exist as well as what she has learned on her journey ensuring that humans are respected through the data life cycle. By supporting municipalities and nonprofits to become part of the solution to bridging the data gap, we can see improved solutions, and ultimately equity and economic justice in our lifetimes. Presenter is:
Challenges and Changes to Measuring Race and Ethnicity
In 2020, the Census Bureau made substantial changes to how they collect and process data on race and ethnicity, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget is currently proposing to change the minimum categories that federal agencies use to collect data on race. These are just the latest events in a long history of shifting racial and ethnic categories used by federal agencies, reflecting the constant evolution of the concept of “race.” During this session, Luc Schuster, Executive Director of Boston Indicators Project, will explore the consequences of recent changes in how the Census Bureau is collecting and coding data on race and ethnicity, and we will also discuss the question of “what is race” and why does our understanding of the concept matter in our data work? To explore more of these ideas, attend the “Accurate representation in race & ethnicity data collection” breakout session. Presenters are:
Closing Plenary
There are a variety of changes coming to census datasets that you may use on a regular basis. During this closing plenary, CTData (the Census State Data Center) staff will share helpful information about population estimates, changes from counties to county equivalencies, and what you need to know if you are looking to use census race and ethnicity data over time. Presenter is:
Michelle Riordan-Nold
CTData Collaborative
Breakout Sessions
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Data Tools Everyone Can Use: Bridging the Technical Data Divide
Data tools are all around. Sometimes we just need to learn about new ways to use tools we already have, while sometimes we face new challenges and need to find new tools. Come and learn about some of CTData staff’s favorite free tools that can help you in your data work, and share the tools that you find valuable as well! Some of the tools we will discuss include Excel, Tabula, Datawrapper, and more!
Presenters:
Jackie Vancour, CTData Collaborative
Jason Cheung, CTData Collaborative
Niq Toliver, CTData Collaborative
Wenyu Xie, CTData Collaborative
Data Detectives
As data people, we appreciate having access to other people’s data so we can make sound decisions. But what about data about yourself? How often have you clicked on “accept all cookies,” or “allow access” to an app or website without reading what you are agreeing to? Or have you ever signed up for a new “free” website without reading through the technical information about how your data is shared? If your answer is yes to either of these, this experiential session (using the Digital Defense Playbook developed by Our Data Bodies) will help you to explore how your data body exists in the world. Maybe you’ll also walk away re-thinking some of the data you collect from others. Hosted by the Equity in Data Community of Practice.
Facilitators:
Jackie Vancour, CTData
Kate Bittenger-Eikel, CTData
Connecticut’s State Data Office: Addressing State Data Gaps
With the State’s Data Office expanding staff and adding a GIS Officer, learn how the office through various initiatives is closing state data gaps. P20WIN has been redesigned to help address gaps. Learn how you can leverage the infrastructure to answer questions that require cross-state agency data. In addition, hear from the State GIS Officer on how he is working towards filling state spatial data gaps.
Presenters are from State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management:
Scott Gaul
Alfredo Herrera
Katie Breslin
Pauline Zaldonis
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Where to Access Census Data
Most of the census data you would want to use can be accessed through data.census.gov. Through this portal you can access American Survey Data standard data tables starting in 2010, Decennial data, as well as the Economic Census, County Business Patterns, Annual Business Survey, and more. Join David Kraiker, Data Dissemination Specialist with the US Census Bureau to learn how to use this tool, from exploring standard data tables to utilizing the built-in mapping function.
Presenter: David Kraiker, US Census Bureau
A Plethora of Census Data Tools
The Census Bureau collects over 130 surveys on an annual basis, in addition to their dozens of data products created in partnership with other federal agencies. During this session, you will learn about the Digital Equity Act Population Viewer, the Narrative Profile Tool, Census Quick Facts, and the Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Explorer.
Presenter: David Kraiker, US Census Bureau
CTData Scavenger Hunt
CT Data is invested in developing Census and State public data web visualization tools and dashboards to support our community of data advocates. This session will explore and engage these tools in an interactive scavenger hunt. After a brief overview of key web tools, participants will work in teams and use the web tools to solve a series of data and community-driven scenarios. Teams will then engage in group discussion and reflection about their findings. Recommended: charged laptop or tablet with charger.
Facilitator: Niq Toliver , CTData Collaborative
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Using Data to Advance Anti-Racist Policies
Advocates depend on accessible, quality data to author narratives that clearly demonstrate disparities. These narratives help to develop and allocate resources, increase capacity, and raise awareness to improve support for historically excluded communities. However, data gaps in race and ethnicity data, segregation measures, underrepresented communities, policy, and health care make it difficult for advocates to share complete data stories and encourage action. In this panel, we will hear from researchers, activists, funders, and advocates about how the lack of data has affected their work, the resulting consequences of these data gaps, and the progress they have made in addressing them.
Presenters:
Ayesha Clarke, Interim Director, Health Equity Solutions
Carline Charmelus, Collective Impact and Equity Director, Partnership for Strong Communities
Rosana Ferraro, Universal Healthcare Foundation
Samaila Adelaiye, Connecticut Voices for Children
Mapping for Community: Understanding the Community Environment
Whether displaying information to drive health equity, or information to connect individuals to each other or their communities, maps can be a powerful tool to help people connect a physical location to information about the people living there. This group of panelists will share their work on employing maps in different ways for the purpose of filling a data gap around engaging communities in our data work.
Rachel Smith Hale, Research on Resilient Cities, Racism, & Equity at UConn
Lynn Stoddard, SustainableCT
Yaprak Onat, Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation
Toward Accurate Representation in Race & Ethnicity Data Collection
Depending on your racial identity, you may have to think very carefully about how you will identify when asked about your race on a survey or form. Some of your fellow data users have thought deeply about these issues, and offer ideas and suggestions that your organization may want to consider in your collection of race and ethnicity data. Join members from the Equity in Data Community of Practice as they share how they are working to collect more accurate and helpful race and ethnicity data.
Presenters:
Steffany Gomes, DMHAS Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics (CPES)
Fawatih Mohamed-Abouh, Yale New Haven Health
Barbara Lopez, Make the Road
Susan Smith, Department of Social Services
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The Data We Need on Early Childhood Services
While more data is available than ever, the state still faces challenges in providing data that we can all use in working toward a Connecticut where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Over the past year, CTData has been working in the early childhood sector on several data projects. Through this work, we have uncovered some key data gaps but also share how others in the state are working towards addressing the gaps.
Presenters:
Nicole Cossette, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Alana Kroeber, United Way of Connecticut
Bethanne Vergean, UConn Health
Courtney Parkerson, The Connecticut Project
Cynthia Willner, CTData Collaborative
Black Business Ownership and Data Gaps
CTData & the Black Wealth Data Center sought to answer these questions: How many Black-owned businesses started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and how many are operating today in Hartford? By linking multiple datasets, we sought to answer this question. Business ownership can be a way to build wealth and assets so that families can meet their needs and have a full life. By having data on existing Black-owned businesses, we can create and tailor policies and programs that create, uplift, and support a thriving, diverse entrepreneurial business environment.
Presenters:
Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut Secretary of the State
Natalie Evans Harris, Black Wealth Data
Oneyka Obiocha, CTNext
Harry Amadasun, Manager, Data Analytics and Quality Improvement, and ShopBlackCT
Jason Cheung, CTData Collaborative
Lightning Round: What can we learn from data gaps?
Public, private, and nonprofit organizations collect data to better understand inequities, and to be able to identify patterns or themes in the data collected. However, sometimes when data is collected, we learn more about our intentions from the data that is missing. These data gaps can be as important as the available data to help us understand the root causes of inequitable policies and practices. In this panel, you will hear from experts in public health, housing, and racial profiling and learn about how patterns in data reflect the values of the communities we live in.