"I have been responsible for board development and staff hiring, and have worked successfully to increase the scope and expertise of our organization, expanding it from 10 to 20 people. I believe DataHaven is now more representative of the diverse backgrounds and perspectives found across Connecticut, and therefore better equipped to accomplish its mission to democratize local data on public health and quality of life."
BOLD SOLUTION: Mark created the Community Wellbeing Survey program, which formally partners with more than 100 academic and healthcare institutions, state and local government agencies, and nonprofits to collect, analyze, and share data on well-being, public health, and economic opportunity at the neighborhood level. The DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey serves as a primary data source for most of the Community Health Needs Assessments conducted every three years by Connecticut’s nonprofit hospitals and their local partners, including health departments.
Mark Abraham is the executive director of DataHaven, a nonprofit organization with a 25-year history of public service to Connecticut cities and towns. Mark’s work focuses on the collection and use of actionable, cross-sector data to support community development, racial equity, and health improvement work, which DataHaven leads in partnership with dozens of grassroots groups, major institutions, and government agencies. Through DataHaven, Mark provides technical assistance and training to more than 200 grant writers, nonprofits, and journalists each year who are seeking local information across a variety of topics, including demographics, economics, public health, and housing, closely following trends in urban and public health research.
Mark received a BA from Yale University and a National Fellowship in Racial Equity and Healing/Community Leadership from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.