Data Day 2009: Using Data to Drive Community Change

Date
July 15th, 2009
Time
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location
Curry Student Center, Northeastern University
Details

Data Day 2009: Using Data to Drive Community Change, a free one-day conference at Northeastern University (view map)

Click here to download an easy-to-print PDF of the conference agenda

About Data Day

Data Day is biennial conference to help communities expand their capacity to use technology and data to advance their goals. At Data Day, nonprofit organizations, civic institutions and municipalities come together to see the latest in technology and tools and learn how other groups are using data to support and advance constructive change. This conference is sponsored by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Northeastern University, and The Boston Foundation.

Data Day serves to facilitate learning among participants at all levels of technical proficiency, with opportunities to share accomplishments, frustrations and aspirations. It is structured around a series of "how to" interactive workshops in which people who work with data will explain what they do, explore data sources, and guide participants on gathering and using data.

The free conference will be held at Northeastern University on July 15th, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.. Although the conference is free, registration is required. Register online at: http://www.mapc.org/rsvp/DataDay_RSVP.htm

Once you've registered through the link above, tell your friends about it by RSVPing to the event on FaceBook.

Call for Posters

Proposals Due: July 3rd, 2009

Data Day 2009 will include a poster session. Posters featuring projects using data to explore a wide range of topics is sought, including community identity and change, demographics, housing, environmental quality, and transportation. Highlight a data or mapping project in your community. The audience will be representatives of community-based organizations, neighborhood associations, municipalities, churches and libraries.

To participate, submit a title, one paragraph description, and if possible a sample of the information to be displayed, by July 3rd, 2009 to Robert Goodspeed at rgoodspeed@mapc.org.

Tentative Agenda

(Click here for a PDF version of this agenda).

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. -- REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

Poster Exhibit Open

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. -- KEYNOTE

"The Economic Crisis and Urban Neighborhoods"
Dr. Barry Bluestone
Director, Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, Northeastern University

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. -- PANEL DISCUSSION

Exploring Your Community Through Data
A panel discussion of experts answering the attendees' questions on K-12 education, public health, housing, crime, economic development, and more.
Presenters: TBA

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. -- INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS (Sessions run concurrently)

General

• Using Indicators to Drive Community Change
A discussion of how data and indicators can be used to drive and track community change
Presenters: Charlotte Kahn, The Boston Indicators Project, Barry Bluestone, Northeastern University; Holly St. Clair, Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Level I: Beginner

• Introduction to Data Mapping (Hands-on computer session)
An introduction to data mapping concepts and techniques, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Presenter: Chris Brown, MAPC

• Introduction to the U.S. Census and Simple Reports (Hands-on computer session)
Learn about the wealth of data in the U.S. Census and how to quickly find facts and figures on the Census Bureau website.
Presenter: Arthur Bakis, U.S. Census Bureau

Level II: Intermediate

• Understanding Public Health in Your Community: Spotlight on Asthma and the MassCHIP Data System (Hands-on computer session)
Explore how to investigate public health data using the Commonwealth’s MassCHIP on-line health database.
Presenter: Saul Franklin, Office of Health and Human Services

• How to Ask and Answer a Community’s Questions
Learn about innovative community data gathering and mapping projects in Somerville.
Presenter: Meredith Levy, Somerville Community Corporation

• Housing & Foreclosure Data - CHAPA’s New Database
A dialogue on the resources and unique challenges to researching housing, foreclosures, and mortgage lending, featuring the CHAPA Foreclosure Database.
Presenter: Ann Verrilli, Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association

Level III: Advanced

• Free Web Tools to Analyze Data and Create Maps (Hands-on computer session)
Discover free and easy-to-use Internet tools to create interactive maps, charts, and visuals with your data.
Presenter: Robert Goodspeed, MAPC

• Public Data Mapping in Massachusetts: Opportunities for Collaboration A discussion among operators of state government mapping websites.
Moderator: Susan Brunton, MAPC

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. -- LUNCH

Posters Exhibit Open

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Ensuring That All Are Counted in Census 2010: How Minority and Low Income Communities Can Prepare
A dialog on the role of the U.S. Census, how it will be conducted, and what unique challenges face minority and low income communities.
Presenters will include representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau, community advocates, and state and local officials.

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. -- AWARDS

Excellence by a Public Agency

Data Champion Award – Public Official

Data Champion Awards – Community Member


3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. -- INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS II AND COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE TRAINING (Sessions run concurrently)

General

• Complete Count Committee Training
Community members and public officials who will be helping prepare their communities for Census 2010 should attend this workshop
Presenters: TBA

Level 1: Beginner
• A Journey Through the Boston Indicators Project Website (Hands-on computer session)
Learn to track change in Boston and Greater Boston using the data and resources on the Boston Indicators Project website.
Presenter: Jessica Martin, The Boston Foundation

Level II: Intermediate
• Creating Custom Maps with the MetroBoston DataCommon (Hands-on computer session)
Learn how to conduct research and create custom maps using the Metro Boston Data Common website.
Presenter: MAPC Staff

• Finding Detailed Information and Custom Reports Using Census American FactFinder (Hands-on computer session)
Explore how to create custom reports, find timely data, and more from the U.S. Census Bureau’s FactFinder website.
Presenter: Arthur Bakis, U.S. Census Bureau

Level III: Advanced
• Open Indicators Consortium: Open Source Data and Mapping Systems
A discussion about an innovative and open-source software program to visualize data online and technology trends of web services, open source software and interoperability standards.
Panelists: Holly St. Clair, MAPC, Charlotte Kahn, The Boston Foundation, Joe Ferreira, MIT, Raj Singh, Open Geospatial Consortium

5:00 p.m. -- Close

If you haven't already done so, register now. See you at Data Day!