Using Data to Tell Your Story

Identify existing information and data that is relevant to your focus area to support the story(ies) you are crafting. Information or data can come from reports, surveys, government memos, the Census Bureaus, or any trustworthy source. Try to include both qualitative (e.g., oral stories, quotes, open text responses on surveys) and quantitative (e.g., survey data, census data, statistics) data as you build your story and craft the narrative of why it is important.

• You can start with the Equity Data Navigator - our tool that makes local data available to all Coloradans. We have other data sources listed in our Resource Library for additional data not available on the Equity Data Navigator.

Once you’ve identified existing data that frame the challenge, look for gaps or remaining questions in your story, and plan to collect data or find other resources to complete the story. Apply an equity lens by identifying data that can highlight individual and community assets and move from a deficit model to positive, strengths-based framing.

• Use the Data Collection Planning Toolkit, Survey Toolkit, and Focus Groups Toolkit to gather additional data that are missing or have not been collected by other entities.

Start by organizing data in different ways that begin to tell a story about your topic of focus. This could involve sorting data by individual, by population group, SDOH, geography, or by some combination of factors. Examine the data to reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the information. This process is called data analysis. This step of the process can help you uncover differences or connections among the various data points that can contribute to your story. Consider what data points bring attention to inequity problems. For example, look for trends or differences that emerge if you examine rural vs. urban groups, Spanish speakers vs. non-Spanish speakers, Black people vs. non-Black people, etc. Be a data detective!

• Get started with Building Coalitions to Promote Health Equity and Investing in Data Capacity for Community Change from our Resource Library.

Combine the data, story(ies), and visualizations (resources below) in a clear, compelling, and equitable manner. Aim to tell stories in a way that promotes equity and use narratives that uplift marginalized communities. Depending on your audience, you might change the way you construct or share your data story depending on what will best resonate with them. Data storytelling helps you engage your audience by inspiring different parts of the brain and turning data insights into action.

• To get started, check out the Data Storytelling for Communities Guide for examples of data visualizations such as infographics, maps, videos, that integrate data and stories.

• Explore how Cloud City Conservation Center: Reading Proficiency and CACEN: Bridging Gaps Infographic have used data storytelling.

• Use the Stories Beat Statistics: The Power of Data Storytelling resource to build your storytelling skills.

• Additionally, check out The Data Visualization Design Process and Applying Equity Awareness in Data Visualization from our Resource Library.

You can leverage your data story(ies) to translate into actions for programmatic, policy, and systems-level change. Advocacy can take many forms involving a range of activities, outreach, or actions. Some examples may include coalition building, grassroots organizing, media engagement, systemic advocacy, individual rights advocacy, and narrative shifting. Determine the media and platforms that you will use and how stories will reach a broad and/or targeted audience.

• Use this advocacy page to explore different actions you can take in your community and where you might share your data story.

• Submit your data story to the CEC website to have it featured on the site and promoted through our platform.

• Submit your data story to other websites such as The Data Disaggregation Action Network.