CT Data Collaborative

We’re grateful for the continued support of Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam and his commitment to uplifting Hartford youth through the Hartford Youth Data Fellows program. During our May 7 Data Walk, he spoke directly to the fellows about the importance of data-driven leadership and the power of youth voices in shaping Hartford’s future.

"Data is so deeply a part of our vision in trying to build the city that I think every resident deserves. In fact, when I became mayor, we created a program to start tracking the goals of our department with data. There was no consistent program across city government to do that, to articulate what our goals were and whether we were achieving them year after year if we were actually advancing the ball in a data-driven way," shared Mayor Arulampalam. "I just want you all to know this is not just a project, this is not just something you were learning, it is something that sets you far apart from many of the policymakers that you're speaking to. Your voices matter, your thoughts and analysis of our challenges matter, and I hope that you take these projects that you've done and use them to create change because we need it so much here in our capital city."

Like us, he was inspired by the fellows’ powerful projects and the thoughtful research they developed on issues impacting their communities. Their work is a reminder of what’s possible when young people have the tools, support, and platform to lead with data.

Learn more about the Hartford Youth Data Fellows program at: ctdata.org/hartfordyouth

We are currently accepting session proposals for our 2026 CTData Conference taking place this December. We’re looking for presentations, workshops, and discussions ranging from 15 to 60 minutes in length that highlight innovative data practices, community-centered research, and practical tools that advance equity and informed decision-making across Connecticut.

🗓 Proposal deadline: Wednesday, July 1

This year’s theme centers on strengthening Connecticut’s data ecosystem at a time when access to reliable federal data is becoming increasingly uncertain.

Submit your proposal online at bit.ly/RFP-2026

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