Advance OC

Are we collecting the right data to best serve Orange County? If you can reimagine the intake process and standardize data collection across housing and social service agencies, what data would you include and why? Advance OC would love your opinion. We're holding office hours on Friday, April 11th from 11 am - 4 pm to co-design an intake form with community. If you would like to see our initial design, please drop by. We'd love to see you and lunch is on us! Please RSVP by emailing [email protected].

I’m looking forward to speaking at the Pediatric & Lifespan Data Science Conference 2025 hosted by CHOC Children's Research Institute on April 10-11! I’ll be sharing insights on Harnessing Generative AI: Revolutionizing Clinical Operations and Advancing Precision Medicine. Join me and explore the latest innovations in AI, complex data, and precision medicine—all aimed at improving patient outcomes. Register today: choc.org/datascience #PLDS25 #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #DataScience #PrecisionMedicine

Congratulations to our Advisory Committee member Suzanna Tashiro Choi for being recognized for her lifetime achievement in community advancement. Suzanna is a superstar ?????We love you!

POWER OF LAND OWNERSHIP We often talk about the power of land ownership in creating generational wealth. But when we look at two key 19th-century land policies—“40 Acres and a Mule” and the Homestead Act of 1862—we see a stark difference in how opportunity was distributed. The Homestead Act was a landmark policy that granted millions of acres of public land to settlers—mostly white Americans—who agreed to farm it. Over 270 million acres were distributed, providing a foundation for #generationalwealth that still benefits families today. The descendants of those homesteaders inherited land, assets, and financial stability that fueled #upwardmobility. On the other hand, 40 Acres and a Mule—a promise made to formerly enslaved African Americans after the Civil War—was never fulfilled. General Sherman’s Special Field Order No. 15 offered newly freed people land to build a future. But within months, the order was overturned, and the land was returned to former Confederate owners. Without access to land ownership, Black Americans were pushed into cycles of sharecropping, tenant farming, and systemic #economicexclusion. The result? The Homestead Act helped create an economic foundation for millions of white families, while the failure to provide 40 Acres and a Mule denied African Americans a similar start. This #racialwealthgap didn’t happen by accident—it was a direct result of policies that either provided or withheld opportunity. As we reflect during #BlackHistoryMonth, it’s important to recognize how these historical decisions still shape our country today. Addressing systemic inequality means acknowledging the past—and taking action in the present to close the gaps that persist. x Leah Ward Sears

Orange County - Thanks for Showing Up! Over 250 nonprofit and philanthropic leaders attended the 2025: How Will Orange County Meet This Moment? event on Jan 31st. As we organize our collective response to federal policies on immigration and healthcare, we hope you will continue to join us in standing up for the most vulnerable residents in Orange County. We are grateful to our speakers: Annie Lai of UC Irvine, Michael Tubbs of End Poverty in California (EPIC), Eddie Carmona of PICO California, Matthew Beckmann of UC Irvine, and Clayton Chau of National Healthcare & Housing Advisors for their expertise and inspirational words. Our deepest thanks to our convening partners: Orange County Grantmakers, Sisters of St Joseph of Orange Healthcare Foundation, CalOptima, and U.S. Bank.

#Data is the new currency. But if your reports are only showing how much of something or the percentage of, the average of, the variance between, then you’re not doing data. You’re doing basic math. Let’s level up. Instead, tell me what causes an outcome, the probability of an event, the relationship between 3 or more variables. Tell me the unique #features of a population who are suffering or the #principalcomponents of disease prevalence or the #predictivevalue of various social determinants, individually and as a group. Join us next week as we talk about how different applications of #datascience have been used in #publichealth (Advance OC) and #economicdevelopment (Deloitte and National League of Cities). #WeDoData #InvestigativeDataAnalysis Social Progress Imperative Advance OC Register here:

Virtual Event: Evidence-based approach to building a thriving America Wednesday, February 12 | 12-1pm ET 2025 will be a pivotal year for our nation. With the economy projected to continue to grow, we have an opportunity to direct this growth into investments and policies that enhance the quality of life across the country. By prioritizing sustainable and inclusive growth, we can ensure that the benefits of economic progress reach all communities, contributing to a thriving society. Achieving this vision starts with empowering leaders at all levels with timely, relevant, and granular data that reflect the unique needs and contexts of the communities they serve. ? Join National League of Cities and the Social Progress Imperative for an engaging discussion with leaders from government, business, and community organizations in exploring data-driven approaches to foster more just, inclusive, and thriving communities. Using insight from the?U.S. Social Progress Map,?this webinar will examine the pressing challenges facing cities and neighborhoods, including inclusiveness, access to affordable and quality healthcare and housing, public safety, and the protection of rights. Hear from frontline leaders who have successfully leveraged data-driven insights to guide impactful decisions and created lasting change in their communities. ? Register for this event?here: https://lnkd.in/gTPxGZf5.

EVENT ALERT ??????? How can data help the United States build more thriving communities? Join the National League of Cities and Social Progress Imperative for an engaging conversation with leaders from government, business, and non-profits. Using insights from the US Social Progress Map, we'll explore solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in cities today: ? housing ? health ? workforce development Register now ?? ? https://lnkd.in/gTPxGZf5 Meet our expert speakers: ?? Coreata R. Houser?– Senior Deputy Director, Department of Innovation & Economic Opportunity | City of Birmingham, AL ?? Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah?– U.S. Insights & Partnerships Manager | Social Progress Imperative ?? Katie Nguyen Kalvoda?– President | AdvanceOC ?? Laura Pati?o – Chief Resilience Officer | City of San Antonio. ??Lydia Murray?– Managing Director, State & Local Housing Assistance Leader | Deloitte ??Zachary Markovits?– Vice President and Local Practice Lead | Results for America Learn more about the #US Social Progress Map: https://lnkd.in/dhZFbCbk Don’t miss this chance to hear how data-driven decision-making is transforming American cities and neighborhoods. ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/gTPxGZf5 #socialprogress #inclusivegrowth #sustainablecities #dataforchange #UnitedStates

Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is a great inspiration in our commitment to advancing equity and social justice in all that we do. ?? #MLKDay #AdvanceOurCommunities #SocialJustice

Advance OC, in partnership with Orange County Grantmakers and the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange Healthcare Foundation, invite you to a community conversation on immigration and health policies affecting Orange County residents. This event is open to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to listen, learn, and share about concerns related to federal policies in these two focus areas. The goal is to build awareness and coordinate resources for support. Please share this event with partners in your network. To accommodate as many people as possible, we ask nonprofits to select ONE session to attend and we kindly request that you limit attendance to ONE representative from each organization. Special thanks to OC Grantmakers, Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation, US Bank and Advance OC for your financial and in-kind support for this event. RSVP for Session I: Immigration https://lnkd.in/gBWQHn4E RSVP for Session II: Health https://lnkd.in/gbBHkzRj