Connecticut Data Collaborative to Conduct In-Person Data Workshops

Striving for informed decision-making across Connecticut, the Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData) empowers an ecosystem of data users by democratizing access to public data and building data literacy. This month, CTData will offer two in-person workshops in Hamden, drawing interest and participants from throughout the New Haven region.

The workshops, part of the CTData Academy, are open to the public and will be held at The Children's Center of Hamden, located at 1400 Whitney Avenue. Online registration is now open for both workshops.

The first workshop, "Intro to Data: Building Your Data Literacy," will be offered on Thursday, September 14, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Data literacy is essential for making informed decisions in today's data-driven world. However, many people feel overwhelmed by the abundance of data available and need help understanding and using it effectively. This workshop will help participants feel more confident working with data in their professional and personal lives.

During this interactive workshop, participants will learn how to evaluate data quality and the conclusions others make with data. Participants will leave the workshop with more confidence in reading and using data in their everyday lives. By the end of this session, attendees will:

• Understand the importance and definition of data literacy.
• Become more critical consumers and creators of data.

• Be more careful in making data interpretations.
• Understand how to improve their data work.

• Improve data skills and become a critical consumer and creator of data.

The second workshop will be held on September 21, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, "Visualize What Matters: Create Impactful Data Visualizations." This hands-on workshop will focus on the principles of data visualization and applying them with free data visualization tools. By learning the principles of data visualization, attendees can create simple, compelling charts that effectively convey insights gained from data, no matter what tool is used.

During this interactive workshop, attendees will:
• Learn how to choose a chart based on what is most important in the analysis.

• Be able to make decisions about color and design to communicate a message.
• Be able to create graphs in free data visualization tools.
• Understand how much detail to show depending on the audience.

CTData provides services to residents, nonprofits, policymakers, and funders so they can use data to drive policy, program, and service improvements. The organization strives to promote and engage data users in implementing equitable data practices across the state.

CTData program initiatives include the CTData Academy, Equity in Data Community of Practice, Customized Data Workshops, and Data Consulting services. In addition, more than 200 datasets are now accessible on the CTData website, including many subject areas and policy categories of particular interest to businesses, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, educators, policymakers, and community groups.

"Data-informed decision-making is increasingly essential in a vast array of fields – from government to the private sector – which makes data literacy and access to data more important than ever. CTData is on the frontlines making data more accessible and working with individuals and organizations to improve their understanding of and use of data," said CTData Executive Director Michelle Riordan-Nold.

Also, this month, CTData's Equity in Data Community of Practice will gather virtually. It is a group of data users in Connecticut who are supporting one another in working toward more equitable data practices. In monthly meetings – virtual or in-person, the group focuses on racial equity explicitly but not exclusively. The next session is scheduled for September 19. Participation is free; details are at www.ctdata.org.

Among its areas of responsibility, CTData has been designated as the lead organization for the State of Connecticut in the U.S. Census Bureau's State Data Center Program. Earlier this year, CTData added to its website U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates for Connecticut's 169 cities and towns, with topics including income, education, housing, remote working, and more.

More information about CTData workshops, initiatives, and datasets is available on the website at www.ctdata.org.