Summer Archives

Bridget Claborn Omaha, NE - Omaha Data Collaborative (ODC)

The Omaha Data Collaborative (ODC), a grant funded initiative embedded in The United Way of the Midlands (UWM), is building an infrastructure for greater data sharing and usage in and among human service organizations (currently 49 programs across 29 agencies), the Omaha Public Schools, and other important stakeholder groups. This summer, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the earlier stages of architecting this system. Much of the work was focused on capacity building within and across agencies regarding data-centric processes and culture. With complexity theory as a guide, we helped agencies (namely out-of-school time organization such as Girls, Inc. and Boys and Girls Club) to develop shared theories of change, identify realistic, measurable outcomes, and envision how evaluation can improve the quality of their respective programs and thus our community at large. I learned a great deal about social innovation, and confirmed that no matter what it is that I do, I want to be a part of it.