Building Community Data Capacity
Data is essential to shaping policies, systems, and programs that work for communities. Yet, community-based organizations often face barriers and capacity challenges around using data to measure, strengthen and report on their initiatives. And the capacity to use data for change efforts has traditionally been concentrated among institutions in positions of power and privilege.
CORE’s Data for Change program responds to these challenges by partnering with community-based organizations to help grow their data literacy, take ownership of their data, measure impact, and tell their stories. Through Data for Change, CORE provides Providence grantees with tailored technical assistance, peer learning through online webinars, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, site visits, and an annual in-person data summit.
Since the 2021 launch of Data for Change in partnership with Providence Community Health Investment, CORE has provided technical assistance to 30 Oregon community organizations on a range of topics, including incorporating an equity lens in data visualization; responsible data practices; and a synthesis of best practices for collecting participant feedback.
How it Works 
- Convenings: Participants attend cohort convenings to learn about data strategy and data justice frameworks, elevate promising practices from the cohort, surface challenges, share ideas, and discuss strategies with other local organizations.
- Technical Assistance (TA) & Coaching Sessions: CORE TA coaches help participants identify data needs and develop a work plan with clear goals to strengthen equitable data practices and overall data capacity.
- Evaluation activities: Participants complete assessment/reflection activities to help guide the program’s future success.
- Additional support: Participating organizations may be eligible for stipend funds to support participation in the cohort.
Testimonials
“Data for Change has helped us to think about evaluation in new ways, how we want to measure our work over the long term and take the time to really define what health means to us and our community.” - Participant
“The fact that I have access to [CORE staff] who are skilled in their ability to figure out what my needs are when I try to explain what I want to learn … This enables me to truly work on this project differently.”
"I like to listen to everybody brainstorm. We might be different [organizations], but we are faced with a lot of the same things that other groups are dealing with. Hearing how they are dealing with it opens us to do more and different things with our program." – Participant
“[Data for Change] helped push us into a space that’s often neglected. We are so busy doing work, looking ahead, and responding that we deprioritize reflection and assessment. I am excited to have more tools and more language that help us know we are doing the work in the way we intended” – Participant
Additional resources & links
Partners & Funders
- Clatsop Community Action
- Growing Gardens
- Hood River Valley Adult Center
- Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
- Maslow Project
- Our Village Gardens
- Portland Street Medicine
- Providence Community Health Investment (Funder)
- Restoration House, Inc.
- Rogue Valley Farm to School
- Unidos
- United Way of Jackson County
Contact
For more information, contact us at core@providence.org
