The Challenge
The Challenge
A question that once required a paper map and a box of pins.
A question that once required a paper map and a box of pins.
A question that once required a paper map and a box of pins.
For years, a Milwaukee-area early childhood educator and longtime partner of Milwaukee Succeeds, a StriveTogether partnership, kept a paper map of the city and a supply of pins. Whenever a grant application asked how many early childhood education (ECE) programs served a particular neighborhood, she would mark each program with a pin and count them by hand.
For years, a Milwaukee-area early childhood educator and longtime partner of Milwaukee Succeeds, a StriveTogether partnership, kept a paper map of the city and a supply of pins. Whenever a grant application asked how many early childhood education (ECE) programs served a particular neighborhood, she would mark each program with a pin and count them by hand.
She was not alone in this. Providers across Milwaukee were using physical maps to work out how many ECE programs operated in a given neighborhood or aldermanic district, usually with a grant deadline approaching. The process was tedious, and the underlying information changed often enough that a hand-marked map went out of date soon after it was made.
She was not alone in this. Providers across Milwaukee were using physical maps to work out how many ECE programs operated in a given neighborhood or aldermanic district, usually with a grant deadline approaching. The process was tedious, and the underlying information changed often enough that a hand-marked map went out of date soon after it was made.
That need for a clearer picture became even more pressing as ECE programs began receiving federal relief funding through the state of Wisconsin during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this funding was vital, the data surrounding it was messy and difficult to interpret. To better understand the state of Milwaukee’s ECE sector and identify where resources were still needed, Milwaukee Succeeds began to examine how funding and programming were distributed across the city, and whether there were disparities. But the data could not answer those questions in the shape it was in.
That need for a clearer picture became even more pressing as ECE programs began receiving federal relief funding through the state of Wisconsin during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this funding was vital, the data surrounding it was messy and difficult to interpret. To better understand the state of Milwaukee’s ECE sector and identify where resources were still needed, Milwaukee Succeeds began to examine how funding and programming were distributed across the city, and whether there were disparities. But the data could not answer those questions in the shape it was in.
The Work
The Work
Turning scattered data into something people could see and use.
Turning scattered data into something people could see and use.
Turning scattered data into something people could see and use.
In May 2024, Milwaukee Succeeds engaged WillBridge to turn that scattered funding data into something people could see and use.
In May 2024, Milwaukee Succeeds engaged WillBridge to turn that scattered funding data into something people could see and use.
WillBridge took a series of data files showing federal funding by time period and by ECE program and cleaned them, matching records across time so the totals could be summarized on a map. The finished view showed funding for the city as a whole, broken out by ZIP code and by aldermanic district.
WillBridge took a series of data files showing federal funding by time period and by ECE program and cleaned them, matching records across time so the totals could be summarized on a map. The finished view showed funding for the city as a whole, broken out by ZIP code and by aldermanic district.
What stood out to Milwaukee Succeeds was how the work felt. “Working with WillBridge felt like a true partnership, and Nick really made the process easy for us,” said Kristin Kappelman, Director of Research. “He asked the right questions, took our feedback and changes in stride, and offered suggestions to make the final product better.” The team never treated the request as too small to be worth the effort or too complicated to solve.
What stood out to Milwaukee Succeeds was how the work felt. “Working with WillBridge felt like a true partnership, and Nick really made the process easy for us,” said Kristin Kappelman, Director of Research. “He asked the right questions, took our feedback and changes in stride, and offered suggestions to make the final product better.” The team never treated the request as too small to be worth the effort or too complicated to solve.
The Value
The Value
From counting pins to answering questions in a meeting.
From counting pins to answering questions in a meeting.
From counting pins to answering questions in a meeting.
“It was super helpful to have the data summarized and visualized, especially by aldermanic district,” Kappelman said. “This type of information has been incredibly useful when it comes to advocating at the local level, especially as funding has ended.” A question that used to require pins and counting can now be answered in a meeting, with a figure behind it.
“It was super helpful to have the data summarized and visualized, especially by aldermanic district,” Kappelman said. “This type of information has been incredibly useful when it comes to advocating at the local level, especially as funding has ended.” A question that used to require pins and counting can now be answered in a meeting, with a figure behind it.
The work also did something for the relationships underneath it. By responding quickly to what their partners actually needed, Milwaukee Succeeds showed it was listening. Making data accessible and user-friendly is a priority for the organization, and this project continued work already underway.
The work also did something for the relationships underneath it. By responding quickly to what their partners actually needed, Milwaukee Succeeds showed it was listening. Making data accessible and user-friendly is a priority for the organization, and this project continued work already underway.
The clearest evidence came in how people reacted when the map was presented. Meetings produced sharper questions and genuine enthusiasm. One partner told Milwaukee Succeeds she now visits its website whenever she needs current data and research for grant applications. The work also generated excitement among funders and board members.
The clearest evidence came in how people reacted when the map was presented. Meetings produced sharper questions and genuine enthusiasm. One partner told Milwaukee Succeeds she now visits its website whenever she needs current data and research for grant applications. The work also generated excitement among funders and board members.
The Momentum
The Momentum
Opening the door to what comes next.
Opening the door to what comes next.
Opening the door to what comes next.
Ultimately, the project revealed new possibilities for what Milwaukee Succeeds could do with its own data. It raised internal interest in how information can be presented visually, and it showed that data does not have to be difficult to use or understand. “It’s opened Milwaukee Succeeds up to trying something different,” Kappelman said.
Ultimately, the project revealed new possibilities for what Milwaukee Succeeds could do with its own data. It raised internal interest in how information can be presented visually, and it showed that data does not have to be difficult to use or understand. “It’s opened Milwaukee Succeeds up to trying something different,” Kappelman said.
That opening has turned practical. The team is exploring how to expand its visualization work at the neighborhood and aldermanic district level, and it is treating this project as the first step toward overhauling its entire dashboard and the metrics on it. The work also led the organization to embed funding for a dashboard into a new grant, something it might not have considered before.
That opening has turned practical. The team is exploring how to expand its visualization work at the neighborhood and aldermanic district level, and it is treating this project as the first step toward overhauling its entire dashboard and the metrics on it. The work also led the organization to embed funding for a dashboard into a new grant, something it might not have considered before.
The near-term picture is honest about uncertainty. The federal funding behind the original analysis has ended, and whether it returns depends on decisions still ahead. What Milwaukee Succeeds hopes for is a consistent source of support for child care programs in the city. In the meantime, the dashboard work continues.
The near-term picture is honest about uncertainty. The federal funding behind the original analysis has ended, and whether it returns depends on decisions still ahead. What Milwaukee Succeeds hopes for is a consistent source of support for child care programs in the city. In the meantime, the dashboard work continues.
What the organization values going forward is the relationship rather than any single deliverable. “I appreciate the thought partnership that we have with WillBridge, even for projects that aren’t funded,” Kappelman said. “It’s super useful to have an organization with the technical capabilities that we lack as a resource to help think things out.”
What the organization values going forward is the relationship rather than any single deliverable. “I appreciate the thought partnership that we have with WillBridge, even for projects that aren’t funded,” Kappelman said. “It’s super useful to have an organization with the technical capabilities that we lack as a resource to help think things out.”
Asked what would have been hardest without WillBridge, the answer was the technical work itself, matching messy data files across time and then mapping the results by aldermanic district. Milwaukee Succeeds did not have the time or capacity for that kind of lift, and handing it off removed the burden entirely.
Asked what would have been hardest without WillBridge, the answer was the technical work itself, matching messy data files across time and then mapping the results by aldermanic district. Milwaukee Succeeds did not have the time or capacity for that kind of lift, and handing it off removed the burden entirely.
“There is tremendous value in using an organization like WillBridge. Not only is the work professionally done and to our specifications, but it was also extremely cost-effective.”
“There is tremendous value in using an organization like WillBridge. Not only is the work professionally done and to our specifications, but it was also extremely cost-effective.”
“There is tremendous value in using an organization like WillBridge. Not only is the work professionally done and to our specifications, but it was also extremely cost-effective.”
KRISTIN KAPPELMAN
Director of Research, Milwaukee Succeeds
Director of Research, Milwaukee Succeeds
FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kristin Kappelman
Director of Research, Milwaukee Succeeds
Samantha Reynoso
Research and Evaluation Manager, Milwaukee Succeeds