States for the future: a data driven policy network

2024 States for the Future In-Person Convening
2024-03-04 - 2024-03-05 | Tempe, Arizona
The States for the Future Annual Convening is an opportunity to learn, share, and collaborate with like-minded organizations that are leading policy conversations in their states with data and research. The convening will be held March 4-5, 2024 at the Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown in Tempe, Arizona.

Building on the success of our inaugural convening in January 2023, attendees can expect to gain insights through a series of presentations from experts and facilitated discussions amongst each other. The Convening is organized around three themes:

The role of the state & data-driven solutions
Getting smarter: Doing our work & understanding the issues
States for the Future: Collaboration, learning, and next steps

Public Opinion Polling & How to Get Started
2024-02-15 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
How can we ensure the policy conversations happening in our state reflect the priorities of our communities?
Join States for the Future and the Center for the Future of Arizona for a discussion on the use of polling to understand the priorities of our states’ residents. Attendees will learn about “The Arizona We Want” poll and how Center for the Future of Arizona has used polling data to engage communities and decision makers around a shared vision for Arizona’s future.
Presenter: Dr. Amanda Burke is the Executive Vice President of the Center for the Future of Arizona. Dr. Burke focuses on innovation and systemic change that will advance the priorities of Arizonans and the long-term future success of the state. She is responsible for the organization’s strategy, operations, and program leadership, including CFA’s statewide initiatives in the areas of education, workforce, and civic engagement. Amanda is a Senior Advisor to the States for the Future network.
About Center for the Future of Arizona:Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for their state. Born from a love for Arizona and a desire to help their state succeed, CFA invests time and resources into the state and its people, including a unique partnership with the Gallup organization to build robust survey research of Arizonans to bring critical issues to public attention, and work with communities and leaders to solve public problems.
CFA offers many resources, such as its Arizona Progress Meter, a web-based tool with interactive data and downloadable charts.
Registration is live through Zoom.

Using Rankings & Reports to Drive Policy Discussions in Your State
2024-01-19 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Join States for the Future and the Common Sense Institute for a conversation about their most recent report and their work in Colorado.
Participants will learn about the process of developing an index that allows us to rank and compare our state’s performance to other states.
We will be joined by Chris Brown, VP of Policy & Research at the Common Sense Institute, who will talk about his organization’s recently released annual Free Enterprise Report and Competitiveness Indices. Chris will share how CSI has used these types of reports inspire, facilitate, and frame policy conversations.

Data Deep Dive: Education
2023-12-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Join organizations in the States for the Future network for a discussion on bringing data into state education policy conversations.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from organizations doing this work in Texas and North Carolina and share experiences from their own states. Discussion questions:
What north star indicators are states using to drive collective action toward improving education outcomes?
How are non-partisan organizations using data to engage in hot topics in education policy?
Speakers
Cecilia Holden – President & CEO, myFutureNC
Dr. Holly Heard – Vice President, Data & Analytics, Texas 2036

Engaging Stakeholders to Build the Washington Vitals
2023-11-15 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
How can you use data to drive ongoing conversations about your community’s future?
The Washington Vitals offer the most current data at the state and community levels to track progress toward Washington State’s desired future. Together with business and community partners, AWB Institute made Washington’s data come to life through good design and ongoing collaboration around the data.
Join Erika Borg of the AWB Institute to learn more about Washington’s approach and discuss efforts in your own state.
Speaker:
Erika Borg has nearly 20 years experience working within philanthropic, nonprofit and corporate circles to improve the lives of young people. In 2018 she started Civic Allies Consulting which supports chambers of commerce, nonprofits and philanthropy in drawing up strategy, programmatic design and identifying funding.
Erika also serves as the Senior Advisor to AWB Institute, a 501c3 affiliated with the Washington State Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to the long-term economic success of all Washingtonians. AWB Institute uses data and long-term economic trends to think through some of the biggest challenges facing Washington. The Institute’s flagship project is Washington in the Making and “The Vitals”. Erika has a Masters of Public Administration from University of Southern California and a Bachelors Degree in English from University of California, Davis.
