Developing a Community Driven Data Sharing and Engagement Model

• In Event: Community Driven Data Sharing & Engagement: The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Transparency Analytics (DATA) CoLab

Abstract

Objective: The DATA CoLab is a community-driven data sharing and engagement project adapted from the Newark Public Safety Collaborative model. The main priorities of the DATA CoLab are to enhance the community partners’ capacity to use data to inform their work and to elevate their expertise.

Methods: Following a pilot initiative in Northwest Philadelphia, the DATA CoLab set out to build a sustainable model of community-driven data sharing through integration into the District Attorney’s Transparency Analytics Lab (DATA Lab). The CoLab received grant funding to launch the project in three additional areas of the city. During this foundational building stage, the DATA CoLab partnered with eight community organizations; identified internal activities, outputs, projected outcomes, and intended impact; and worked with partners to envision their data informed projects.

Conclusions/Implications: The DATA CoLab design aims to ensure that communities have access to data and support that is normally not available to community members. Through building out this foundational model, the DATA CoLab hopes that data sharing becomes the norm to ensure community voices are at the forefront of data interpretation and informed use.

Authors

• Ciara Sheerin, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office

• Meaonka Agers, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office

• Tyrell Mann-Barnes, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office

• Oren Gur, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office