Why Obtain Additional Data?

We encourage all local leaders to obtain more detailed and contemporaneously gathered data during the Mobility Action planning process. These data sources may include government administrative data or data from local nonprofit service providers, businesses, and community-based organizations. People with lived experiences of structural racism, poverty, disability, and other marginalized identities can also be important sources of local knowledge.

Though we suggest all communities supplement the Mobility Metrics with other data, doing so can be especially helpful when specific metrics do not seem reflective of the lived experiences in a community. Other sources may illuminate local conditions and contexts that offer an explanation. This can be particularly true in rural communities, where nationwide data sources may be insufficient because aggregated data mask significant variation across subgroups of people.

Why Is It Important to Disaggregate Data?

The goal of the Upward Mobility Framework is to achieve upward mobility for all people and communities. But that isn’t possible unless local leaders combat persistent racial inequities across the key pillars of support that people need from their communities.

That’s why the Mobility Metrics data in the Upward Mobility Data Dashboard are disaggregated whenever possible. By breaking down data for specific groups, the metrics provide a more nuanced, representative understanding of the lived experiences of different populations.

Still, marginalized groups of specific ethnicity, race, disability status, and other characteristics may have limited representation in some data sources underlying the Mobility Metrics. For example, many disability-related resources rely on the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, but its questions about disability capture only a limited number of disabilities. Similarly, because of issues with data collection, sample sizes, and funding efficiencies, smaller and more-marginalized groups are often combined into broad data categories that effectively erase differences in their lived experiences. For example, research shows the larger, combined racial category of “Asian American” in some health-related datasets hides significant discrepancies between ethnic subgroups.

When these structural decisions in data collection and analysis obscure how specific communities are faring, it can lead to inaccurate perceptions, inequitable distributions of funds, and ineffectively targeted interventions. Further exploration of the data sources we offer can improve your understanding of, messaging around, and implementation of upward mobility work.

Best Practices for Identifying Reliable Local Data

In general, when looking for local data to supplement the Mobility Metrics, start with the following reliable sources. Many of them are reflected in the catalog above.

• Census data: National census data provide a wealth of demographic information, beyond those used to construct the Mobility Metrics.
• Government websites: Local, state, and national government websites often provide access to a wide range of public data, including demographic information, economic data, and public records.
• Open data portals: Many governments have open data portals, where they share datasets on topics such as transportation, education, health, and more. One example is data.gov.
• Public libraries: Local libraries may have relevant resources and data available to the public, which librarians can assist with locating.
• Community organizations: Nonprofit organizations and community groups may collect and share data related to local issues.
• Educational institutions: Universities and research institutions publish research and data in various fields. Academic libraries and online repositories are good places to explore for more information.
• Local newspapers and magazines: Local publications may conduct investigations and collect data on community issues. Archives of newspapers or magazines can be a valuable resource.
• Community surveys: Some communities conduct surveys to gather information on topics that are important to residents. Look for survey results published by local government or community organizations.

When accessing and using public data, it’s essential to be mindful of privacy and ethical guidelines. Always check the terms of use and comply with any applicable laws or regulations.

Mobility Metrics Resources

When combined with the Mobility Metrics, these resources and best practices give local leaders a fuller understanding of the upward mobility conditions in their community and ways to advance mobility and equity for everyone.

For additional assistance using the metrics, view How to Examine Your Metrics and Six Ways to Use the Mobility Metrics.

Guide written and compiled by Tina Chelidze, Claudia D. Solari, and Lily Robin.