2000115-Strengthening-Communities-with-Neighborhood-Data

Institutional Context 31
In addition, when contributing agencies update their administrative
datasets internally, they often replace the old version with the new so that
data on past transactions are lost. Intermediaries sometimes take on the
role of archiving the historical data, creating longitudinal datasets that
enable the examination of trends over time.
Disseminating data. For the most part, dissemination means releasing
the data directly to the public over one or more websites in different
forms to suit a range of needs and technical expertise. Dissemination by
intermediaries ranges from publishing static displays, such as maps and
statistical profiles with charts and tables for individual neighborhoods,
to providing structured data files that users can download. Some displays
are interactive, and users can specify aspects of the form and content of
the maps or charts they want. On some websites, for example, a user can
click on a particular land parcel on a map, and the system then brings up
various displays about that parcel, including a photograph of the building
and tables with descriptive characteristics. Data intermediaries also
disseminate data in more traditional forms, such as hard copy reports
and fact sheets. As described below, a large part of the dissemination role
that data intermediaries play in their community is in working directly
with local stakeholders, engaging them in using the data to influence
policy and achieve impact.
Applying the Data to Achieve Impact
Although the acquisition, transformation, and dissemination of data
are essential, NNIP partners consider their most important function to
be applying the data to address local policy problems. Data and technical
assistance from data intermediaries can motivate changes to public
policies at the neighborhood, local, and state levels. The intermediaries
endeavor to increase the ability of governments and community organizations
to identify emerging issues; to target resources and investments
efficiently; and to empower groups in distressed neighborhoods
to mount improvement initiatives.
Clients include government agencies, city councils, community
foundations, nonprofit service providers, neighborhood associations,
and community development corporations. The intermediaries often
prepare analyses and reports on particular topics themselves. The experiences
can be even more beneficial, however, when the intermediary
works interactively with individual clients and helps them to understand