The following writeup was submitted by the local public-data-focused nonprofit DataHaven. 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. 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. “This student-designed, student-led program reflects exactly what public data are for: working together with people across different backgrounds and geographic areas to understand the world more clearly, so we can make it more just,” said Mark Abraham, Executive Director at DataHaven. “It is so impressive to see the students’ graduate-level work in analyzing and visualizing community-level information, and their efforts to execute such an outstanding program with strong participation from high school students in multiple events throughout the year.” 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. In April, DHYAC members led a module at the Yale School of Public Health, facilitating an interactive data activity for other high school students in the New Haven area. 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. DataHaven credited The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, The Connecticut Project, and individual donors with supporting the program. DataHaven Executive Director Mark Abraham (left) at the May 28 meetup. Credit: Andrew Chen photos Credit: Andrew Chen photos The post DataHaven Youth Council Hosts Inaugural Research Symposium appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less