Building economically resilient, equitable, and livable cities through data-driven community engagement

Cities need accurate data that identifies the current needs of their residents, especially for the most vulnerable populations and communities, in order to develop effective policies for their yearly budgets, plan for long-term needs and prepare for shocks (i.e., pandemics, economic downturns, increases in crime) and economic opportunities.

Real-time data, at the individual and neighborhood level, enables policymakers and community leaders to identify needs, develop and implement effective and efficient policies, target resources to specific community needs, and evaluate the effectiveness of these policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that all cities have significant gaps in their capacity to collect and analyze policy-relevant data in real-time. That challenge is addressed this fall for the cities that will be chosen to participate in the Communities Speak Cohort City Program.

Cities that participate in the Communities Speak Cohort Cities Program will learn to track changing conditions and opportunities, by collecting microdata through bi-annual surveys of individuals, small businesses, and vulnerable groups. Through regular surveys that are developed in collaboration with community organizations, Communities Speak Cohort Cities will collect micro-level data over time to develop targeted policy interventions. This microdata is key to designing and evaluating public policies, programs, and targeted interventions.

Collecting targeted individual-level, microdata through surveys of individuals and small businesses at regular intervals and during crises, allows for an in-depth and differentiated understanding of socio-economic issues affecting diverse demographic groups and small business types.

Communities Speak has developed a framework and practical tool for city governments and policy makers to collect, analyze, and share policy relevant micro-level data. The data collection and analysis framework can be adapted by any city, enabling local governments to develop evidence-based policy in partnership with its residents.

Building strong strategic partnerships with community organizations, not-for-profits and government agencies allows us to develop a survey which better reflects the issues that impact these communities and to ensure, through their outreach efforts, that our sample is representative of all communities in the City.

Data is readily made available to aid government agencies, local organizations and researchers to develop targeted community-based programs and evidence-based policy. Survey data analysis and ongoing engagement with community organizations will enable city government officials and local community leaders to propose programs and formulate policies that can target needs and evaluate the impact of those interventions.