Bridging Data Divides: Collaborating for Impact

This two-day summit event will bring together people who are interested in working collaboratively with data across government, philanthropy, nonprofits, universities, businesses, and impacted communities. Speakers will address strategies for using data to promote positive change in areas of health, community development, environment, and beyond.

May 1-2, 2025

Clark-Fox Forum
Hillman Hall
Washington University

Register

We are all data people. Whatever your role, experience, or relationship to data, this two-day summit is an opportunity to connect, share ideas, and discover new ways data can be leveraged to increase impact in St. Louis and beyond.

Topics

Community-engaged research
Collaborative data practice
Community-centered philanthropy
Data storytelling and community voice

Bridging Data Divides is hosted by the Data for Social Impact (DSI) initiative at the Center for Social Development and Transdisciplinary Institute in Applied Data Science (TRIADS) at Washington University in St. Louis, in partnership with the Community Innovation and Action Center at University of Missouri–St. Louis. Support for the event comes from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and WashU Digital Intelligence and Innovation Accelerator.

Schedule

May 1 | Bridging Research/Practice Divides

1:00-1:15	Welcome

1:15-2:30	**Panel: Collaborating to Address Health Disparities**
	Joyce Balls-Berry, Associate Professor of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine Theresa Gildner, Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis Cal Halvorsen, Associate Professor, Brown School at Washington University Jordanna McLeod, Senior Program Specialist, Missouri Division of Senior and Disability Services Kristen Mueller, MD, Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine Moderator \| A.J. Soll, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Centene Corporation
2:45-4:00	Fireside Chat: Community- and Data-Informed Housing Solutions
	Patrick Fowler, Co-Director, Division of Computational and Data Sciences, Washington University Andrea Jackson-Jennings, Managing Director, Regional Response Team Shannon Koenig, Executive Director and CEO, County Housing Samantha Stangl, Executive Director, House Everyone STL Moderator \| Adam Pearson, Director, Department of Human Services, City of St. Louis
4:00-5:30	Reception/networking (heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and NA options)

May 2 | Bridging Data Divides in the Social Sector

8:30-9:15	Data and Donuts: Continental Breakfast and Networking

9:15-9:30	*Mini Keynote*
	Riisa Rawlins, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Commission of Missouri
9:30-10:45	Collaborative Data Practices and Tools
	Bridget Blount, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Baltimore’s Promise Fatuma Faarah, Campaign Officer, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data Paul Sorenson, Co-Director, Community Innovation and Action Center at UMSL Rachel Wells, Director of Data Science Education, DataKind
11:00-11:45	Small group discussions

12:00-1:00	Networking lunch

1:00-2:15	Fireside Chat: Collaborative and Trust-Based Philanthropy
	Vanessa Cooksey, President and CEO, Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis Brice Mickey, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Beech Acres Parenting Center Zohar Perla, Director of Evaluation and Learning, bi3 Megan Simmons, Senior Research Strategist, Missouri Foundation for Health Moderator \| Leah Moser, Planning and Operations Lead, University of Missouri St. Louis Community Innovation & Action Center
2:30-3:45	Panel: Data Storytelling and Community Voice
	B.N Blithe de Carona (Bee, she/her), Artist, Seventh Dead World Studios Lindy Drew, Co-Founder and Lead Storyteller, Humans of St. Louis Karishma Furtado, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute Jia Lian Yang, Director, Storytelling & Communications, Forward Through Ferguson
3:45	Closing remarks