Tickets for the CTData Conference avaiable now!Join over 250 professionals on December 3rd in Hartford as we gather for our annual CTData conference,
exploring how we can use data to strengthen democracy and our communities. This event will feature hands-on workshops, participatory engagement strategies, and cutting-edge approaches to ethical data use in our current challenging landscape. Early bird tickets are available for just $110 through September 8th, with session proposals welcomed until July 15th. Hartford's UNITY Initiative Continues to Show the Power of Data-Driven Youth ServicesThe City of Hartford’s Department of Families, Children, Youth, and Recreation launched the Hartford UNITY initiative in 2021, to help families and youth recover and heal from the isolation and disruption of the pandemic.
The UNITY initiative provides grants to program providers offering youth recreation, employment, enrichment, and other support services for Hartford children and youth from birth through age 24. The Hartford Data Collaborative linked and integrated individual data from over 70 programs serving Hartford’s children and youth over the 3 years of the program. The June 2025 report reports on findings from the data, including the number of children served, their neighborhood of residence, and to what
extent the programs focused on priority populations, including justice-involved youth, adolescents/middle-school aged children, and girls under 18. Responding to Federal Data Changes: Connecticut’s Path ForwardFederal funding cuts and executive orders are dismantling the data infrastructure that supports democratic decision-making across Connecticut. Four
critical areas face disruption: access to federal datasets, reliance on federal standards, loss of expertise, and increased privacy risks from broader government data sharing requirements. This past May, over 35 people gathered in Hartford for our Data for Democracy event to learn about these changes and identify collective actions to protect democratic access to
information. You can read more about our event in our blog post where we talk about actions individuals and organizations can
take to protect privacy, strengthen data collection practices, and stay informed and engaged. Check Before You Chat: A Guide to Evaluating Generative AI ToolsBefore adopting generative AI tools, organizations must evaluate them through a risk-aware lens that prioritizes data handling and ethical safeguards. Key considerations
include data handling protocols, model transparency, and protections for sensitive information. At our May Community of Practice session, Jordan Jefferson highlighted these issues and emphasized the importance of responsible implementation. When used thoughtfully, these tools can help balance innovation with institutional risk management. You can check out the full webinar on our blog! Strengthening Connecticut's Legal Aid System through Shared Data WorkNonprofit organizations can have a greater impact when they collaborate as part of larger systems, such as education, libraries, or healthcare, as well as other
less formal networks. Our work with Connecticut’s civil and legal aid system shows how shared data language and measurement frameworks can strengthen networks of service providers. This approach has led to improved technology infrastructure in state courthouses and has helped identify service gaps more effectively than individual efforts alone. You can read more about this work in our blog post. Youth Voices Highlight Disparities at 2025 Hartford Youth Data WalkThrough data analysis and storytelling, the Hartford Youth Data Fellows transformed raw data into meaningful snapshots that highlight challenges facing the Hartford
community. This year’s cohort held their Data Walk at the Connecticut State Capitol where they were recognized by Mayor Arulampalam for their civic engagement and data-driven advocacy. Their projects addressed several pressing local issues, including dilapidated housing, teacher shortages, and police budgeting. Read more about their incredible work in our blog post! Communuity of Practice: Accessibility for Data VisualizationsJuly 15: Data visualizations aren't neutral—they reflect decisions about which narratives to center and which to sideline. Even with the best intentions, your design choices in charts and graphs can inadvertently alienate segments of your audience. Join our July 15 Community of Practice to learn asset-based visualization techniques that will make your community's
strengths more visible and ensure your data speaks to everyone who encounters it. CTData Grows Evaluation Capacity with Keely StaterWe're excited to announce that Keely Stater has joined CTData as a Program Evaluation Specialist. Keely will strengthen our ability to set clear, measurable objectives and create frameworks for assessing the impact of our initiatives. Her diverse experience in academic research, nonprofit advocacy, and Public and Affordable Housing Research makes her another valuable addition to our team. Copyright © 2025 CTData Collaborative, All rights reserved.
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