National Study Praises Providence’s Efforts to Improve Community Outcomes Using Data

PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Angel Taveras today joined Results for America, an initiative of America Achieves, and The Bridgespan Group to release a new paper highlighting Providence as one of the nation’s best cities at driving better results for residents through the use of data and evidence. Providence is highlighted alongside Baltimore, Denver, Miami, New York, and San Antonio, as an example of a city that is building evidence about the most effective and efficient practices, policies and programs.

The paper, “Geek Cities: How Smarter Use of Data and Evidence Can Improve Lives,” lauds the Providence Children and Youth Cabinet’s Evidence2Success initiative, a program designed to promote children’s health and development by investing in proven programs.

“I am pleased that Providence has been named one of the top six cities in the nation at using data and evidence to drive better outcomes for our residents,” said Mayor Angel Taveras. “By investing in proven, effective resources we can maximize our impact and build a stronger community.”

The work of ProvPlan to make data more accessible and useable is also highlighted in the report.

“Since our inception in 1992, ProvPlan has been committed to ‘democratizing data’ and putting relevant information into the hands of policymakers, stakeholders, and residents,” said ProvPlan Executive Director Patrick McGuigan. “Going forward, we will be expanding our partnerships with city government and other entities to ensure that such data remains accessible, shared, and used to promote evidence-based decisions.”

Based on extensive research and interviews with municipal leaders from across the country, the paper names Providence as one of six “Geek Cities” – municipalities working to improve outcomes by setting new trends for how data can be used to increase efficiency, focus on programs that are achieving results and steer resources away from those programs that are not succeeding. The Geek Cities are compiling an evidence base and setting a standard for use of data on issues, including education, jobs, youth development, and preventing infant mortality.

“Today, ‘geeks’ are driving the competitiveness and dynamism of our nation’s economy, and using creativity and data to transform society,” said Michele Jolin, America Achieves founding partner and leader of the Results for America initiative. “The ‘Geek Cities’ highlighted in this report remind us of the extent to which city governments have become the incubators of innovation and the drivers of results in America.”

Leave a comment