UNO Center for Public Affairs Research is pleased to present an updated take on its 33rd annual professional development data series with two virtual events this fall. CPAR Presents: A Data and Research Series for Community Impact is for anyone who uses — or wants to use data — to understand and affect change in our Nebraska communities. Join an all-star lineup of experts to learn how to find population and social data for your needs, how to make sense of current trends in data, how best to share your data with funders and policymakers, and more. Download full schedule, or see registration information.
Agenda
Part 1 | August 24, 2022 | 9 A.M. – noon (CDT) | virtual
A range of resources exist to understand the population, economic, and social trends of Nebraskans provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, including and beyond the 2020 Census. This data has a wide range of applications, including grant writing, needs assessments, planning, reporting, and evaluation. Attend this session for an overview of resources to characterize life in Nebraska from the U.S. Census Bureau and from the University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research (UNO CPAR).
9 - 10:45 A.M. – New to Gathering Data on the Lives of Nebraskans? Start Here.
This session will include an overview of different data sources from the U.S. Census Bureau and will provide insights and applications of this data for Nebraska.
Presenters:
- Carol Miller, data dissemination specialist, U.S. Census Bureau
- Josie Gatti Schafer, Ph.D., director, UNO CPAR
10:45 - 11 A.M. – Break
11 A.M. - noon – Tips for Getting Started Accessing Data
These breakout sessions, led by expert facilitators, will focus on how to access the right data for a variety of purposes.
Presenters:
- Accessing ACS Data from data.census.gov | Carol Miller, data dissemination specialist, U.S. Census Bureau
- Available Data on Housing for Nebraska | Mike Norton, Ph.D., chief policy analyst, Reinvestment Fund
- Available Data on Economic Topics | Kim Davis, data dissemination specialist, U.S. Census Bureau
Part 2 | September 28, 2022 | 9 A.M. – noon (CDT) | virtual
As discussed in part one of the series, a range of data points exist to characterize the lives of Nebraskans. Once we have the data, we need to share the data so we can raise awareness, build coalitions, and create programs and policies that will impact the lives of Nebraskans. Attend this session to explore the variety of ways data can be analyzed, visualized, and disseminated to ensure it has maximum impact.
9 - 10:30 A.M. — Applying Data to Impact the Lives of Nebraskans
This session will be an overview of topics that UNO CPAR has provided data for in the state, including workforce equity, entrepreneurship development, and mobility of Nebraskans. In addition, we will demonstrate our approach to analyzing these complex policy topics.
Presenter:
- Josie Gatti Schafer, Ph.D., director, UNO CPAR
10:30 - 10:45 A.M. — Break
10:45 A.M. - noon — Tips to Ensure Impact
These breakout sessions, led by expert facilitators, explore ways to analyze and share data for a variety of constituencies and audiences. Once you join the Zoom link for the breakout sessions on the day of the event you will be able to select a breakout room to join.
Presenters:
- Using Data to Understand Root Causes to Detrimental Disparate Outcomes | Cammy Watkins, executive director, Inclusive Communities
- Best Practices in Sharing Data with Funders and Foundations | Emily Nguyen, deputy director, Weitz Foundation
- Best Practices in Sharing Data with Elected Officials | Renee Fry, private consultant
- Finding and Applying Financial Data to Governance Challenges | Craig Maher, Ph.D., director, UNO School of Public Administration
Registration
The live sessions have ended. Recordings for both sessions will be available to purchase through September 30, 2023.
Use the links in the table below to register. Fees are $70 per live session. You will receive access to a recording a week after the event.
Can’t attend live? Purchase recordings of the series, including breakout sessions, for a discounted rate at any time before or up to one year after the series for $30 per session. Use the links in the table below to register.
| Session | Recording Only |
| Part 1 - August 24 | Purchase for $30 |
| Part 2 - September 28 | Purchase for $30 |
Registration for the live events and recordings must be completed through NU Connect, UNO’s registration system for professional development offerings. A University email address is not required for registration.
ALREADY REGISTERED? After registering, you will have access to a Canvas landing page. Please login and go to your Student Dashboard to see the links to start the individual courses. Click "Go To Course" to access the individual courses where you will select your preferred breakout session on the course home page. You will also find the Zoom links, schedule, session materials, and evaluation link here as well.
If you registered multiple people via a bulk purchase, these instructions show how to invite the additional “students” to each course purchased for them.
Recordings will be made available after the event is over. They will be posted to the course home page for the session you registered for, and you will receive an email notification when they are ready. You will be able to view the recording as many times as you wish.
Advisory Committee
We wish to extend our gratitude to the advisory committee for this data and research series:
- Renee Fry, private consultant
- Craig Maher, Ph.D., director, UNO School of Public Administration
- Emily Nguyen, deputy director, Weitz Foundation
- Cammy Watkins, executive director, Inclusive Communities
About the Presenters
Kim Davis, data dissemination specialist, U.S. Census Bureau
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Kim Davis’s primary role is to provide communication about statistical demographic and economic data from the U.S. Census Bureau to the public, including local governments, tribal nations, businesses, media, universities, and a variety of organizations, and data users. She is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders through the dissemination of Census Bureau data products and resources. She coordinates events, presentations, trainings, and workshops that assist with using data products and demonstrate accessibility used for decision making, developing, and planning. |
Renee Fry, private consultant
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Renee Fry is a native of Madison, Wisconsin and received her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Renee has more than 20 years of experience working with the Nebraska Legislature, first as a staffer and more recently as the executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, a nonprofit focused on improving opportunities for low- and middle-income families through budget and tax policy in Nebraska. In her current role, Renee is excited to help nonprofits become more effective policy advocates. |
Josie Gatti Schafer, Ph.D., director, UNO Center for Public Affairs Research
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Dr. Josie Gatti Schafer’s work with CPAR includes management of a personal project portfolio with both smaller collaborative research activities, as well as high profile research projects. Recently, she has led projects including the Entrepreneurship in Nebraska report, data and analysis for the UNO Workforce Development Taskforce, the Nebraska Community Foundation Youth Survey, and policy analyses for the Planning Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature; she also serves as principal investigator of the Nebraska Rural Transit Project for UNO. |
Craig Maher, Ph.D., director, UNO School of Public Administration
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Dr. Craig Maher teaches, among other topics, public budgeting, public financial management, research methods, and research design. He focuses on fiscal federalism, which is reflected in his research on the effects of intergovernmental aid payments on local spending patterns, K-12 finance, the effects of state-imposed spending, and revenue limitations on state and local governments. He is currently focused on the measurement and explanation of local fiscal condition, particularly through the Recession of 2008. |
Carol Miller, data dissemination specialist, U.S. Census Bureau
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Carol Miller has worked with the U.S. Census Bureau since 2008, serving in two decennial operations. She joined Data Dissemination in 2014 and has conducted events, presentations, and trainings that assist users in accessing Census Bureau data products for decision making, planning, grant writing, and business development. |
Emily Nguyen, deputy director, Weitz Foundation
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Living in Omaha since she was five, Emily Nguyen considers herself an “almost” Omaha-native. She learned about the incredible impact of local nonprofits in high school and has been involved with many organizations ever since. Emily believes in the strength of communities to understand their needs and the importance of building on a person’s or community’s strengths to create change. Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Creighton University and master’s degree in social work and public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. |
Mike Norton, Ph.D., chief policy analyst, Reinvestment Fund
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Michael supports all research related to Reinvestment Fund’s organizational goals and mission working closely with a range of partners, including small nonprofit organizations, local and national philanthropies, private companies, colleges and universities, school districts, federal, state, and city governments and agencies. His work leverages nearly a decade of experience as researcher and project director to develop data driven solutions. He completed his doctoral studies in the Sociology Department at Temple University, where his research examined the relationship between secondary mortgage market activity and neighborhood change in the Philadelphia region at the turn of the 21st century. |
Cammy Watkins, executive director, Inclusive Communities
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Camellia “Cammy” Watkins is an Omaha native who graduated from Omaha South High School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell College in psychology and vocal performance. Cammy has almost 20 years of experience working with not-for-profit organizations ranging from affordable housing to performing arts administration. The opportunity to work with many different facets of the business world have provided Cammy with vast insights into the business needs of organizations. |
Questions?
Contact us at unocpar@unomaha.edu or 402.554.2134.
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