The City and County of Denver has been named one of 10 new cities to have achieved What Works Cities Certification, in recognition of their exceptional use of data to guide their decision-making and improve residents’ lives. What Works Cities Certification – the national standard of excellence in data-driven city governance – evaluates how well cities are managed by measuring the extent to which city leaders incorporate data and evidence in their decision-making.
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What Works Cities is a national initiative launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies to help cities use data and evidence more effectively to tackle their most pressing challenges. “Denver’s proud to be recognized by What Works Cities as one of the first 50 cities in the country to be Certified for our investment in data and transparency as part of our decision-making processes across the city,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “Using data to help us empower our community and improve outcomes in health, housing and safety is critical, and we look forward to building on this achievement moving forward to continue making a positive impact on the lives of all our residents.”
Over the past year, Denver has demonstrated measurable progress on these foundational data practices. Some notable examples of the city’s use of data include:
• The Hancock Administration’s Denver Support Housing Social Impact Bond Initiative was the first pay-for-success Housing First model of its kind.
• Denver Public Health & Environment’s award-winning Love My Air program provides real-time data to monitor air quality in Denver schools by using low-cost, cutting-edge air pollution sensor technology, equipped with solar, battery storage, and data connectivity.
• Sharing data and resources with the city of Aurora, Denver is creating a regional, community-focused approach to combating youth violence in our cities. This Youth Empowerment Compact is key to providing educational and employment opportunities for our youth to support their growth and safety.