Establishing a common agenda "requires participants to have a shared vision for change, one that includes a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving it through agreed upon actions" (Kania & Kramer, 2011). Achieving buy-in from a broad set of community stakeholders and formulating that shared vision can be achieved through a mixed methods approach to data generation and strategic communication. This mixed methods approach involves big data and analytics on the one hand and qualitative case study on the other. These mutually reinforcing data collection efforts can then be integrated and communicated via rationally-based information appeals supported by nuanced storytelling that gives life and texture to the data. In short we use data to identify and define the problems our community face, then use storytelling to draw attention to the problems, engage the community in discussion, and motivate stakeholders to act in pursuit of solutions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Ideas and methodologies for data collection at the county and regional level.
2. Best practices for putting a human face on data and the importance of the lived experience in explaining collective impact.
3. How to use a mixed-media approach (podcasts, video, tutorials, etc.) to bring together quantitative data and the human experience in a community