National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership: A National Network Supporting Local Data
In September 2024, Hawai‘i Data Collaborative’s (HDC) Emma Kern attended the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) Partners’ Meeting in Detroit, Michigan hosted by NNIP partner Data Driven Detroit. At the event, Kern connected with Kathryn Pettit, NNIP’s Co-Director. With 28 years of experience at the Urban Institute, Pettit brings a wealth of knowledge and perspectives to NNIP. From coordinating partner cities and organizations across the country that support local priorities, to recruiting new cities and advancing equity on the national level, NNIP is a growing network of changemakers dedicated to using data to shape strategies and investments so all neighborhoods are places where people can thrive.
NNIP: Building Capacity and Advancing Equity
NNIP works with partner organizations in 32 cities across the U.S. to accelerate innovation and advance equity from the ground up. NNIP partners help communities leverage data to improve where they live and achieve their aspirations. “There are lots of different ways – we think of community data capacity as happening at the individual, organizational, and collective levels. Overall, and over time, NNIP partners contribute to a culture of using data – lifting everyone to more sophistication about using data, and expectations that good data should be available to answer community questions,” says Pettit. Although all NNIP partners share this common goal, their approaches are unique and tailored to their particular communities. From addressing poverty and homelessness in Cleveland, to supporting nonprofits with strategic planning in Hartford, to mitigating urban displacement in Minnesota, to hosting “Data Days” to raise community data awareness and skills in cities across the country, there are numerous examples of how NNIP partners are working to enhance their local data ecosystems.
Pettit echoes the challenges organizations face in building data capacity that HDC has heard from stakeholders here in Hawai‘i. “[Building data capacity] can be amorphous – it isn’t as explicit as building housing units or feeding people. It can be easier to make the case for [funding] direct services, or even reports or websites, or other tangible deliverables,” says Pettit.
Building data capacity takes time and practice but will accelerate achieving the outcomes we want for our communities. Developing the capacity to use data critically and effectively takes many steps and conversations, which require consistent funding over time. Pettit adds, “This means that we need to connect the dots for funders for not only initial, but for continued investment. It’s about developing a relationship over time so we can make progress. Funders may initially want a quick fix, but it’s an ongoing process. Data capacity is conceptual – it can be hard to describe, but we recognize it when residents ask about margins of error and quality of data.”
“Without local data, the problems don’t exist. We need to equip local leaders with actionable data and stories because once we do this, not solving the problem is a choice”
As NNIP expands, equity is at the forefront. Since 2018, NNIP has become more explicit in setting goals for how data can advance racial equity rather than contribute to further harm and stigmatization in marginalized communities. “We don’t want data to be used to target or victimize communities,” says Pettit. In addition to looking at data’s impact on equity, NNIP has also been in the process of reviewing the makeup of its own staff and board, as well as choosing partners strategically. “NNIP looks to promote staff diversity within partner organizations – this is our foundation and core. Diversity looks different in different places – we need to be mindful of nuances and let each partner discern whatʻs right for their own context and their own neighbors.”
Partners’ Meetings: Growing Community
Participants at NNIP’s Partners’ Meeting in October 2024.
Partners’ Meetings are essential to how NNIP grows community, as they offer an opportunity to showcase emerging ideas and strategies, and provide a space for diverse and likeminded organizations from across the U.S. to convene. Pettit says, “These meetings are a great opportunity for potential partners to meet NNIP partners face-to-face and learn what our organization is about.” As a first time participant, HDC’s Kern shares, “I felt energized, inspired, and welcomed. Data Driven Detroit and NNIP staff did a great job of interweaving local panelists and activities that allowed me to learn more about the rich history of Detroit, paired with approaches to community-driven data from across the country.”
In addition to plenary sessions featuring national speakers, a unique aspect of the meeting that both Pettit and Kern highlight is the breakout sessions, which are determined on-site during the meeting based on participant interests. This dynamic approach allows for creativity and ownership, and ensures that the content of the meeting is relevant to participants. Speaking to the breakout sessions Kern says, “The organic conversations and the energy in these rooms were great - we were able to take content from larger sessions and dive more into the application in various local contexts.”
Reflecting on the experience, Kern notes that there are a lot of similar themes across the country, including Hawai‘i, and lots of folks working in the space supporting data and capacity building in ways similar to HDC. “A quote from one of the plenary sessions stuck with me: ‘Without local data, the problems don’t exist. We need to equip local leaders with actionable data and stories because once we do this, not solving the problem is a choice’. Although everyone is focused on different issue areas, there is a recognition that investment in data capacity and infrastructure is fundamental to addressing the systemic inequities we all are playing a part in addressing.”
