The Program
The Equitable Development Data Insight Training Initiative (EDDIT) offers data analysis and storytelling training to non-profit, community, and government organizations working towards urban equity in small and midsized cities in the U.S. and Canada.
Our mission is to support equitable development in small and mid-sized cities by building capacity in change makers.
EDDIT helps organizations refine their narratives and leverage data so that they can make the best possible case for their equitable development work to their community and stakeholders.
Why Storytelling?
Storytelling is a powerful tool to share important and complex data in an approachable way to policymakers, researchers, and the wider community. A story can call people into action, or it can induce fear and drive people away. Effective storytelling through data and narrative analysis will help practitioners document, reflect, and evaluate the impacts of their work. Through our program, organizations will learn data and storytelling skills that can be transferred throughout their organization.
Why small and mid-sized cities?
Organizations working in equitable development may not have access to the data they need, or if they do, they may not have the capacity to preform meaningful data analysis and visualization. This tends to be especially true for organizations in small and mid-sized cities. We are dedicated to providing resources and support to organizations in order to showcase the benefits of equitable development to funders, policymakers, and the public.
The Initiative
A 7-9 month training program personalized to your equitable development project. In this learning journey, we teach you how to build public will for your equity work using narrative and data.
Strategic CaseMaking training
You will learn the ten principles of Strategic CaseMakingTM. We will jointly develop your case guide – a document that synthesizes the elements needed to build your persuasive case, personalized to your specific equitable development project and audience.
Data Analysis & Storytelling training
We will co-create data products to support your case. You will learn how to effectively communicate your data stories, and how to integrate them into your broader narrative to bolster your case. This will include: identifying and interpreting existing datasets that address your needs, addressing data ethics and equity issues, learning the basics of data visualization, and effectively communicating your data.
Program Overview
A collaboration that helps your organization bring data analysis and storytelling skills into the core of your organization’s planning process. The training process includes four stages:
Stages
Stage 1
Scoping & Site Visit
Confirm your equitable development project/area of focus and conduct a 2-day in person site visit.
Stage 2
Curriculum Co-Design
Receive three coaching sessions to refine your learning objectives and ensure the curriculum is tailored to your needs.
Stage 3
Curriculum
Embark on a 12-week training on Strategic CaseMaking and data analysis & storytelling tailored to your project. Includes weekly live 90-min workshops, personalized learning activities, office hours, and pre-recorded short video lessons.
Stage 4
Final Showcase
Put your learnings into practice for the final showcase presentations.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the program you will be able to:
- Implement, advance, fund, and/or promote your equitable development work, with the purpose of furthering community equity and wellbeing.
- Effectively use data to measure, evaluate, and/or communicate the impacts of specific equitable development projects.
- Build public and political will for urban equitable development.
Program FAQs
We will work closely with your organization to create personalized modules designed to meet your data and narrative needs. The curriculum will include virtual lectures, workshops, and office hours tailored to your organization’s project/program, including both technical data analysis skills and more process-oriented case-making & storytelling skills.
Your team will build their skills in these areas, and your organization will gain insights on your specific equitable development project/program. By focusing together on one project, you will also develop transferable skills to implement organization-wide.
The training will be provided by:
- Karen Chapple, Professor and Director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto and Professor Emerita at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Tiffany Manuel, President and CEO of TheCaseMade, a consulting group specialized in case-making and consensus building.
- EDDIT staff, postdocs, and graduate students from UC Berkeley and the University of Toronto, who specialize in urban issues and data science.
- Faculty experts from UC Berkeley and the University of Toronto, available to provide specialized training for specific areas of equitable development. For example, if your project/program concerns transit accessibility, we may bring in a faculty member specialized in this field to contribute to your particular curriculum.
The site visit is an important part of the program, as EDDIT is geared primarily towards organizations involved in place-based equitable development work. This site visit will allow our team to meet your organization, learn more about your project/program, and gain a better understanding of your community and data. The site visit will help us better tailor the narrative & storytelling component of the training to your specific context.
We are prepared to teach at all levels, from very basic to advanced. The training will be targeted to the needs of your organization. This may include training on Excel, Python, GIS, data organization, data visualization, narrative-building, and more.
We will enter into a data sharing agreement with each selected organization, which can be tailored to your organization’s needs. Data will be stored so as to ensure data privacy and confidentiality. If and as appropriate, we may share the data and results of your data analysis with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and/or post results publicly, but the extent of any public data sharing will be up to the discretion of each selected organization.
Partner Organizations
EDDIT is a partnership between the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Toronto, and TheCaseMade. EDDIT is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The School of Cities
The School of Cities is a world-leading, interdisciplinary center for urban research, education, and engagement at the University of Toronto, dedicated to uncovering new ways for cities and their residents to thrive.
Center for Community Innovation
The mission of the Center for Community Innovation (CCI) at the University of California, Berkeley is to nurture effective solutions that expand economic opportunity, diversify housing options, and strengthen connection to place. CCI works toward more equitable, resilient futures for communities.
TheCaseMade
TheCaseMade helps everyday heroes emerge as leaders through the power of storytelling, or Strategic Case Making™. They train leaders how to persuade stakeholders and the public to throw their support behind deeply transformational systems change.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
This project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
RWJF works with others to identify, understand, confront, and remove the structural barriers to health and well-being, including racism, powerlessness, discrimination, and their consequences. RWJF supports research, programs, policies, and practices aimed at bringing about meaningful change and improving the lives of everyone in our nation now and for generations to come.
Areas of Equitable Development
We welcome all projects dedicated to equitable development. The project scales can range from a single community fridge to a city-wide policy. They may fall under one area of equitable development, or span across multiple areas.
Economic opportunity
Entrepreneurship programs, small business loans, grants
Housing affordability
Housing advocacy programs, housing design
Transportation accessibility
Rider advocacy groups, bike lane projects, bus route projects
Food security
Community gardens, local produce delivery services, food banks
Environmental justice
Community cleanups, river restoration projects, climate advocacy groups
Capacity building
English language classes, youth after school programs, trade skills training
Culture and history
Public art projects, oral history projects
Community wealth-building
Community land trusts, co-operative housing
Active living
Sports and recreation programs, park space design, winter outdoor activities
Ready to get started?
- Want more information?
- Wondering if your organization or project is a good fit?
- Interested in doing an exploratory call?
- Need help with the application?
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