Excited to officially begin the Workshop in Urban Data Storytelling (WUDS)! Both the hybrid and in-person versions of WUDS had their kick off this week. The hybrid group has begun their month of virtual learning, which will be followed by two days of in-person workshops at the University of Toronto on June 4-5. Our in-person group will meet for a 5-day workshop at the end of the month also happening at UofT. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for these two vibrant groups of planning professionals.
A partnership between the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Toronto, and funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
We train equitable development-focused organizations to expand their reach and impact by using data and narrative.
The Equitable Development Data Insight Training (EDDIT) Initiative helps city building professionals build buy-in for equitable development in their communities. We offer data analysis and storytelling training to non-profit, community, and government organizations working in the U.S. and Canada, empowering them to leverage both data and narrative for positive change.
Now Enrolling Next Workshop in Urban Data Storytelling!
We are offering hybrid and in-person versions of the Workshop in Urban Data Storytelling this May
• Submit the form below to receive the latest updates about the program, webinars, consultations, deadlines and tips
• Get more details about the program here
• Book a one-to-one meeting to discuss your application here
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Equitable development is defined as policies, programs, or infrastructure investments that provide opportunities for all by reducing wealth and health disparities, with an intentional focus on disinvested places and communities of color.
John Doe
Sample Organization
President and CEO
Our Upcoming Training Programs!
EDDIT: Urban Data Storytelling Training for Social Changemakers
Meet EDDIT Clients
EDDIT works closely with organizations to offer them a personalized data analysis and storytelling training program to support their existing equitable development projects.
Learn About a Real Client Case Study
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Location:
Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada
Equitable Development Project or Area of Focus:
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo aims to assess and understand the issue of housing affordability in their region, addressing the unique housing needs of their urban and rural populations.
Client Spotlight: City of Albuquerque
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is urban data storytelling?
Urban data storytelling is the process and practice of using data to craft compelling narratives about cities, in order to communicate key insights, inform policy-making, build public-will, or advocate for change. Urban data storytelling combines data analysis, data visualization, and narrative techniques to make complex urban trends understandable and engaging for specific audiences, such as policymakers, funders, or community members.
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What is EDDIT?
The Equitable Development Data Insight Training (EDDIT) initiative provides data analysis and storytelling training to individuals and organizations working towards urban equity in the U.S. and Canada. The goal of EDDIT is to help you effectively leverage data and narratives to communicate the impact of your work and build support for equitable development in your community.
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Who does the EDDIT team consist of?
EDDIT was launched in 2023 as a collaboration between the School of Cities at the University of Toronto and the Center for Community Innovation at UC Berkeley. EDDIT is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For more information about our team members, see the Team page.
As planners we are often aware of what the problem is, and what our data is telling us, yet that doesn't always get us anywhere. EDDIT helped open our minds to try and un-learn some of what we have been doing and try a different way of doing things, based in the belief that we have the capacity to make positive change today so that we can get to a better future tomorrow.
Isela Contreras-Dogbe
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
A memorable insight from our time with EDDIT was when they [the EDDIT team] visited our community. It gave me a chance to tag along and visit the community assets we have in our neighborhoods, listen to conversations with stakeholders, and learn the passion and zeal these stakeholders have for their community. That was an "aha" moment for us -- to build our community engagement and engage every single aspect of our community stakeholders as we make decisions.
Martin Byaruhanga
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Program Manager, Community Partnership and Initiatives
The team brought a dynamic way of looking at existing resources from different perspectives, including figuring out how to apply an equity lens to the data that we have.
Martin Byaruhanga
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Program Manager, Community Partnership and Initiatives
Being part of the EDDIT cohort, I have learned more about how I can visualize and tell a story with the data that we have, and how we can reframe it to answer objective questions. I would say I'm confident in continuing to leverage the resources that we were provided through EDDIT.
Martin Byaruhanga
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Program Manager, Community Partnership and Initiatives
My key takeaway from this training was to shift from a problem-based perspective to a solution-based one.
Martin Byaruhanga
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Program Manager, Community Partnership and Initiatives
You really learn so much more about your project than you thought you were going to. EDDIT really gives you those tools necessary to make those big asks in the future and get the community involved in the future. And I would just absolutely recommend it to everybody.
Sarah Supple
City of Albuquerque
Operations Manager + Public Information Officer
A win that has come from EDDIT training is I feel like I can better verbalize my ask towards our audience, our target audience in the real world. I feel like I'm more comfortable talking about our project publicly, just generally speaking, whether it's to our community directors or whether it's to the community members. EDDIT has given me these tools to really feel comfortable in the way that I deliver the message.
Sarah Supple
City of Albuquerque
Operations Manager + Public Information Officer
EDDIT has expanded our understanding of equitable development and how to tackle that in other projects moving forward.
Sarah Supple
City of Albuquerque
Operations Manager + Public Information Officer
EDDIT has changed my approach to everything that we do. After every single session I would sit there and not only think about how it applies to the Rail Trail, but also how it applies to our Downtown Forward efforts and our other grant programs. I was like, oh my gosh, we can use this for absolutely everything that we're doing!
Sarah Supple
City of Albuquerque
Operations Manager + Public Information Officer
I feel more confident using data to support our call to action. I feel like I have a better sense of purpose for our data and a clearer sense of how I want to use it in order to make our case.
Sarah Supple
City of Albuquerque
Operations Manager + Public Information Officer
If you are considering working with the EDDIT team, do it. Do it. You will not regret it. You will learn a lot more than you thought you would learn.
Dr. Telisha Robers
Business High Point
Executive Director of Thrive High Point
Get Program Information
Let us know what program you are interested in and we will send you more details about our programs, informational events, and when to apply.
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Latest News and Updates
May 2025
Virtual kick offs mark the start of WUDS
March 2025
Apply to WUDS by March 28
There's still time to apply for EDDIT's Workshop in Urban Data Storytelling!
Interested individuals or organizations in the public, private, or nonprofit sector working on urban planning and policy issues are encouraged to apply for the Workshop in Urban Data Storytelling (WUDS) until March 28.
In this condensed training program, you’ll learn data storytelling skills to advance local urban initiatives in your community, along with more technical data analysis skills, such as GIS or coding. Both a hybrid version and a fully in-person version of the WUDS training program will be offered this May-June