Community conversations inform Lincoln’s latest data report

More than 120 community members attended a gathering at Auld Pavilion Recreation Center on October 3 to hear the latest findings from Lincoln Vital Signs and learn how our community is coming together to address persistent disparities. 
 
Since 2014, Lincoln Vital Signs has been a community-wide data resource. The data is used by organizations and individuals to inform decisions, spark connections, and spur collaboration.

The focus issue continues the tradition of providing credible, reliable information about Lincoln while highlighting the diversity of our community and identifying opportunities to increase prosperity for all residents.
 
Dr. Janell Walther from the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center provided background information on how Lincoln identified the need for more focused and comprehensive data on race equity. 
 
“One of the biggest questions folks kept coming back to was, ‘How can we explain what these disparities look like and the impact of those disparities?’” she shared. 
 
With that, Lincoln Community Foundation and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center sought to establish a process to not only gather and evaluate data based on racial and ethnic diversity, but to also do so with input from our community. 
 
Dr. Walther explained that central to this process was hearing from our neighbors.  
 
“We didn’t want to tell a story about our community without their voice at the table,” she said. “As a result, we planned four “Data Walks” where we invited community members to review eight preliminary data indicators.” 
 
The events were hosted at Educare in the Belmont neighborhood, F Street Community Center in the South of Downtown neighborhood, Hartley Elementary School in the Hartley neighborhood, and Willard Community Center in the West A neighborhood. Interpreters, childcare, refreshments, and a stipend were provided to make these data walks accessible. 
 
“People shared whether the data felt true to their experience, what they wished they knew, how the disparities might be addressed, and when the data felt surprising or not,” said Dr Walther. “This community input reshaped the report and the indicators.” 
 
Lincoln Vital Signs: Race Equity Trends 2024 presents data in chapters covering: Community Profile, Financial Well-Being, Housing and Neighborhoods, Education, and Health. Dr. Stacey Hoffman, one of the authors of the report and senior research manager at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, presented key findings. 
 
“Lincoln is growing more diverse,” she said. “As the size of our overall population grows, the proportion of residents who identify with racial or ethnic groups other than white or Caucasian is also increasing.” 
 
Dr. Hoffman shared that Lincoln does well in a number of areas when considering racial equity. The majority of Lincoln’s population, across all racial and ethnic groups, have achieved some education after high school. People serving on City Boards and Commissions, who are appointed by the mayor, are representative of the racial and ethnic make-up of the city. Workforce participation and employment rates are higher for some racial and ethnic groups than the city-wide average. 
 
However, the data shows that while diversity is increasing, persistent disparities exist. Black or African American residents, and Native American residents, experience lower employment rates than the Lincoln city-wide average. Median household incomes are lower for most non-white households with only white and Asian households having average incomes higher than the Lincoln city-wide average. Severe housing cost burden is disproportionately experienced by non-white households. Disparities in educational attainment exist and financial factors are related to children’s educational outcomes. 
 
Selina Martinez, administrative director of student engagement and inclusion at Southeast Community College, followed Dr. Hoffman’s presentation and shared her perspective with the crowd. 
 
“For individuals with lived experience like myself and others in the room, this data is not surprising,” she said. 
 
Prior to her role at Southeast Community College, Selina served in a dual capacity at Community Health Endowment and the Lincoln Community Foundation. Much of her time was spent developing the Race Equity report by engaging with the Public Policy Center, the funders of the report and the Lincoln Vital Signs Advisory Committee. 
 
“Part of our discussions included our intentional effort with how this data would be both displayed and communicated so we could highlight the benefits of our diverse communities and prevent further harm to communities experiencing these inequities,” she shared. 
 
From surveys to meetings, the process spanned several months, ensuring the data was reported in a thoughtful and inclusive way. 
 
To conclude the event, participants were encouraged to personally explore the data by visiting key findings presented on posters throughout the room. Representatives from the Public Policy Center, as well as community members whose work represents some of the many ways Lincoln is responding to persistent disparities, were available next to each data point to facilitate conversation. 
 
“The Public Policy Center compiles this data for our community to be informed,” said Selina. “And through the robust networks of the folks gathered here today, the Lincoln Community Foundation invites you to take the next step and get involved.” 
  
To explore the data and view the full Lincoln Vital Signs Race Equity 2024 report, visit LincolnVitalSigns.org.