4/5 Stories that Breathe Life into Data

Want to learn how you can create a positive impact on your community?  

On April 5, Chris Barge, vice president of strategic initiatives at the Community Foundation Boulder County, will speak about the foundation's TRENDS Report, as part of CU Boulder's Community Engagement, Design and Research (CEDaR) Center's Community Conversations series. The report highlights trends related to Boulder County's most important issues, including social services and human needs.   

Barge, a former newspaper reporter for the Rocky Mountain News and the Boulder Daily Camera, will cover the highlights and facilitate a conversation about how participants can use the information and stories in TRENDS to deepen their connection to and create a positive social impact upon the local community. The foundation sought out residents' stories after carefully analyzing more than 150 indicators of the community’s social, economic and environmental health, he said. 

"TRENDS includes profiles of people who possess the hard-earned wisdom learned from living through tough times," said Barge who edited the current report. "Their stories breathe life into the data and helped the foundation arrive at recommendations about how local residents can help." 

The talk is sponsored by CEDaR, a collaborative of faculty and students working with city governments and other local partners to foster development of vital and sustainable Colorado communities. The center, which is housed in CU Boulder's Program in Environmental Design, supports research and teaching on community engagement, city planning and design and urban management. 

"The TRENDS report is an important model of how to organize and communicate social research to stimulate community discussion and reflection," said Brian Muller, an associate professor in the Program in Environmental Design and director of CEDaR. "It is one of many examples of innovative work occurring in nonprofit and governmental organizations in the region."   

Through the Community Conversation series, CEDaR has invited local practitioners, elected officials and others to discuss Colorado urban management problems and solutions. Topics range from transportation to energy efficiency and human services. The series has been underway for one year, and the CU Boulder and surrounding community are welcome to attend.