CT Data Collaborative Conference Nov 8, 9, 10

The Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData) is bringing individuals who use data – and those who’d like to know more about how to effectively use data in their business or nonprofit organization – for their 2021 annual conference, being held virtually.

This year’s conference will include a series of free sessions over three consecutive days – November 8, 9 and 10. The topics will include Applying Equity Awareness in Data Visualization, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Community Resiliency Estimates and Pulse Program, a look at Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) and an overview of upcoming and ongoing CT Data projects.

“With topics ranging from census data tools to wonky data geographies, accessing community resiliency to applying equity awareness in data visualization, whether you’re a data expert or are just coming to grips with how to access, visualize and utilize data effectively, this mini-conference offers information you can use,” said Michelle Riordan-Nold, Executive Director of the Connecticut Data Collaborative.

Registration for each of the conference sessions is now open at www.ctdata.org/conference2021. The daily sessions include the following:

Nov 8, 10:30am-12:00pm

Census Bureau: Community Resiliency Estimates and the Pulse Program

Community Resilience Estimates demonstration: Our state has experienced multiple disasters in the pandemic and in the deluge of rain and flooding in unexpected places. The Community Resilience Estimates “provide an easily understood metric for how at-risk every neighborhood in the United States is to the impacts of disasters, including COVID-19.” This Census Bureau demonstration will explain how you can use the tool and understand the methodology behind the estimates.

Pulse Program: In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Census Bureau responded to “the urgent need for data…[by] launching two new experimental surveys to measure temporal social and economic trends in the nation’s small businesses and households.” This session will explore these two surveys and how they can be used to respond to the changes in Connecticut.

Nov 9, 9-10am

CT Data Project Overview!

CTData staff will highlight some of the numerous and varied data projects now underway to help data users in Connecticut. Projects expected to be discussed include the Zoning Atlas, Town Profiles, the Women & Girls Platform, the Hartford Data Collaborative, and more!

Nov 9, 10:30am-12:00pm

PUMAs: What Are They and How Are They Changing?

PUMAs (Public Use Microdata Areas) are geographies that include multiple towns and allow us to access Public Use Microdata for an entire region. These data can contain lower margins of error for certain kinds of disaggregation and can allow us to access data that is not available at the town level. This session will explain more, and will participants’ input into what Connecticut’s PUMAs should look like for the next decade.

Nov 10, 10:30am-12:00pm

Do No Harm: Applying Equity Awareness in Data Visualization

Co-authors Alice Feng (Senior Data Scientist (Data Visualization) at Natera) and Jonathan Schwabish (Senior Fellow at Urban Institute) will share techniques that data visualization producers can consider when creating visuals to integrate race- and ethnicity-consciousness into data visualization work. This presentation is based on the Do No Harm Guide: Applying Equity Awareness in Data Visualization and is sponsored by Connecticut's Equity in Data Community of Practice. [Learn more here or register here.]

The Connecticut Data Collaborative is a statewide public-private partnership that focuses on ensuring public data is open and accessible. As an advocate for accessible data, CTData runs the CTData Academy, offering an array of workshops and training for people interested in improving their data literacy, providing opportunities for individuals, businesses and organizations to become more informed data users and critical data consumers.

In addition, CTData provides customized data training, hosts easy-to-use, downloadable data, creates customized data visualizations and interactive data tools, provides data consulting services, and supports a community of data users through events and conferences.

More than 200 data sets are now accessible to the public on the CTData website, including a wide array of subjects and policy categories. CTData was recognized last year by the Connecticut Entrepreneur Awards in the Education category. More information is available at www.ctdata.org.