Tools and strategies

1. What the Dashboard Shows
(Brief plain-language description)

• e.g., “This dashboard displays monthly 311 response times citywide and by district.”

2. Why It Matters to Residents
(Link data to impact)

• e.g., “Faster response times mean fewer safety hazards and better community services.”

3. What the Trend Means
(Interpret recent changes)

• e.g., “Response times improved 15% after staffing changes in Q2.”

4. Limitations to Know
(Transparency about data quality, definitions)

• e.g., “Data reflects completed cases only and may lag by one week.”

5. What the City Will Do Next
(Action signal)

• e.g., “We are launching a pilot program in District 5 to test schedule adjustments.”

Use this narrative style for dashboards shared publicly, in council reports, or in community presentations.

Before releasing a dataset or dashboard publicly, go through this checklist:

✔ Purpose Clarity

• Is there a clear reason for sharing this data with the public?
  (Inform, engage, justify decisions, enable action)

✔ Privacy & Risk Review

• Does the dataset contain any personally identifiable information (PII)?

• Are there any individual-level data points that could be sensitive?

✔ Context & Definitions

• Have key terms and definitions been explained in plain language?

✔ Harm Assessment

• Could this information inadvertently stigmatize groups or neighborhoods?

• Could misinterpretation cause harm or erode trust?

✔ Accuracy Check

• Is the data clean and free of obvious errors?

• Is the data up-to-date and consistently defined?

✔ Feedback Mechanism

• Is there a way for residents or stakeholders to ask questions or provide feedback?

Use this checklist before making dashboards or raw data publicly accessible to ensure your release reinforces trust.

 1. Publish a Monthly Performance Summary

• One page or infographic that highlights 3–5 key indicators with context.

2. Be Proactive, Not Reactive

• Don’t wait for freedom of information requests to respond — post regularly.

3. Frame Context First, Figures Second

• Always lead with “What this means for residents” before “Here are the numbers.”

4. Use Multiple Channels

• Post dashboards on the city website

• Summarize in social media posts

• Share at council meetings or community forums