High school students from across Connecticut gathered at New Haven City Hall on Thursday, May 28, to present original research on pressing community issues, capping a year of data literacy training through a first-of-its-kind youth program.
DataHaven Youth Action Council
The DataHaven Youth Action Council held its inaugural end-of-year research symposium, showcasing student projects on topics including affordable housing and homelessness, the legacy of redlining in Connecticut cities, teen mental health and social media, environmental issues, and transportation access.
The council is entirely youth-led, with students designing their own curriculum, research focus areas, and events. Mark Abraham, Executive Director at DataHaven, praised the students’ work, saying it reflects the purpose of public data: working together with people across different backgrounds and geographic areas to understand the world more clearly, so we can make it more just.
In its inaugural year, the DataHaven Youth Action Council drew students from Fairfield County, Greater Hartford, the Naugatuck Valley, and Greater New Haven. Over the past school year, about 15 participants met every other Saturday at the New Haven public library to develop skills in data collection and analysis, visualization, and research reporting.
The program was conceptualized last summer by two high school seniors interning at DataHaven — Janet Fan and Linda Chen — and was then designed and facilitated throughout the school year by Fan, Chen, and Saanika Tipnis, with support from Drew Thomas, a doctoral student and teaching fellow at the University of Connecticut.
Mayor Justin Elicker attended the symposium, which was open to the public and drew student family members, DataHaven staff, and community partners. The council’s reach extended beyond the symposium, with members leading a module at the Yale School of Public Health in April.
Many of the students plan to continue their work beyond the school year, sharing findings and supporting advocacy efforts across Connecticut. The program will continue in the coming school year with a new cohort. High school students interested in participating can find more information on DataHaven’s website.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
