If you can convert data into knowledge, you’ve got the skill set that people need
On Friday, October 18, the University Library welcomed Ginneh Baugh, Vice President, Strategy & Knowledge Development, United Way of Greater Atlanta to Data in the ATL.
#DataInTheATL is a speaker series hosted by Georgia State University Library that connects the university community with prominent members of the Atlanta data community. Invited speakers show the importance of data science in making informed decisions and how they use data analysis and expertise in their daily work.
Baugh shared with attendees the steps taken by the United Way of Greater Atlanta to develop the Child Well-Being Index, a collection of data and interactive map that the community can use to assess how its children, the families that support them, and the community that surrounds them, are doing.
The index gave United Way a tool to measure child well-being. Examining an assortment of data, including a family’s financial stability, housing cost burden, the percentage of mothers without a high school diploma, percentage of low-weight births, students exceeding third-grade reading standards and high school graduation rate.
“If we’re going to embark on data analysis, it has got to be useable by people,” Baugh said.
“I have to be able to introduce people to something new then I have to be able to help connect the dots as to how this information can be used.”
[Speaking directly to students in attendance] “If you can convert data into knowledge you’ve got the skill set that people need.”
For more on Baugh’s Data in the ATL talk, take a moment to watch the video above.
Click here to learn more about Data in the ATL and to see a list of upcoming speakers