New Orleans


The Data Center

RSS Feed

Contact:
Lamar Gardere, Executive Director

The Data Center is the most trusted resource for data about greater New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana. Founded in 1997, we are fully independent and we are experts at bringing data together from multiple sources. In doing so, we are uniquely able to step beyond the limits of analyzing data from just one perspective and take a 360–degree look at issues that matter most to our region from the government, business, nonprofit, and community perspective. In these ways The Data Center realizes its mission to build prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable communities by making informed decisions possible.

What We Do

The Data Center approaches its work from three levels:

  • First, we analyze and monitor a set of key indicators in order to build foundational knowledge about the strength and vibrancy of greater New Orleans.
  • Second, where there is a match between community interest and our expertise, The Data Center uses action-oriented research to take a deeper look at a specific issue.
  • Third, because we live in a time when government cannot fix things on its own, we ensure our findings reach not only elected officials, but also community leaders, neighborhood activists, members of the media, and business executives.
     

The Data Center’s areas of expertise include disaster recovery, regional economic analysis, workforce development, racial disparity indicators, blight reduction, affordable housing, and coastal population movements. Regardless of the subject area, The Data Center brings together data from multiple sources in a way that connects the dots beyond simply a public or private sector perspective.

Why We Do It

The Data Center believes that reliable data, analyzed by an independent team of experts that know New Orleans and the region, makes good decisionmaking possible. Our work provides a tool box of fact–driven, well–researched data that moves beyond anecdotal experiences and goes deeper than national reports which, too often, miss community nuances that are unique to our region and key to understanding the root causes of our challenges. A core part of The Data Center’s mission is to transform local culture from being data–adverse to embracing data as an intrinsic component of sound policy development. This transformation gained steam significantly after Hurricane Katrina when The Data Center created “The New Orleans Index” to measure key indicators towards recovery.

How We Do It

The Data Center compiles, monitors, and analyzes data each and every day. We put our work in the hands of local and national stakeholders in the following ways:

  • Our “New Orleans Index,” a now biennial publication developed in collaboration with the Brookings Institution only a few months after Hurricane Katrina, tracks progress towards prosperity by looking at indicators that measure economic growth, sustainability, inclusive growth, and quality of life.
  • Throughout the year The Data Center is busy researching, analyzing, and releasing a number of other valuable tools for our region.
  • Each year we publish “Who Lives in the New Orleans Metro Area Now?” — an analysis of key demographic trends in areas such as race, age, ethnicity and national origin, education, poverty, income, homeownership, and transportation.
  • On a monthly basis we publish U.S. Postal Service counts of households actively receiving mail as an indicator of repopulation for every ZIP code across the seven parishes of the metro area.
  • On a regular basis our “Numbers Talk” e–newsletter provides up–to–date information on data trends in critical areas.
     

Who We Serve

The Data Center serves everyone who needs data to do their work. This includes government agencies, business leaders, neighborhood associations, local nonprofits, and members of the media. We distribute our data across a range of channels, including our website (100,000 unique visitors/year), our e–newsletter (4,000 subscribers), the media (500+ mentions/year), print publications, speaking engagements, and decisionmaker briefings. By doing so, The Data Center helps inform a common understanding of progress and challenges in key areas of interest. This understanding, in turn, can lay a solid foundation for sustainable progress towards a prosperous and inclusive region.

Measuring Our Impact

By keeping facts on the table, The Data Center regularly gives local, regional, and national leaders the tools they need to make the strategic, programmatic, and fiscal decisions that are building a sustainable greater New Orleans.

  • “The New Orleans Index” was the most widely used means of tracking rebuilding efforts in the months and years following Hurricane Katrina and has set a new national standard for measuring disaster recovery.
  • In the first post–Katrina U.S. Census, The Data Center provided City Hall with facts that showed a larger population than portrayed, halting a possible loss of $61 million in federal funding.
  • Our “Neighborhood Profiles” give community leaders and local residents the facts they need to set block by block priorities, become effective advocates, and secure funding; our clear process for tracking blight reduction has created a shared understanding of progress at City Hall; and our comprehensive look at income levels in New Orleans is bringing leaders together to see that low wages, not high rents, are a key factor in New Orleans’ future success.
     

Let The Data Center help you make informed decisions! Sign–up for our “Numbers Talk” e–newsletter so that you are alerted whenever the Data Center publishes new data and reports.

Katrina Andry
Project and Publications Manager
Jaden Stanton
Junior Software Developer
Lamar Gardere
Executive Director
Allison Plyer
Chief Demographer
Dabne Whitemore
Development and Finance Director

Activities

December 6, 2023
Lamar Gardere, executive director of the The Data Center, joined Katherine Oliver, Garnesha Ezediaro, who leads Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative, and Darrick Hamilton, the Founding... [read more]
October 1, 2023
Over the past few months NNIP Partners have been using data to explore drivers of Black wealth to better understand the dynamics of wealth and inform strategies to build wealth. We highlight a few... [read more]
January 2023 - March 2023
In the first video, learn about real-world examples of data practices at the federal, state, and... [read more]

Publications

February 3, 2025
Blog post - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Blog Post
January 29, 2025
Presentation - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

PDF
November 13, 2024
Video - By: Lamar Gardere, Haleigh Tomlin, Miranda Santillo

The Data Center, Urban Institute

November 13, 2024
Presentation - By: Lamar Gardere, Haleigh Tomlin

The Data Center

PPTX
September 24, 2024
Video - By: NNIP

The Data Center

September 24, 2024
Meeting Materials - By: Leah Hendey

Urban Institute, The Data Center

PDF
September 24, 2024
Presentation - By: Lamar Gardere

The Data Center

TuesdayAM_Gardere.pptx
September 16, 2024
Blog post - By: Robert Habans

The Data Center

Blog Post
July 1, 2024
Blog post - By: Leah Hendey, Lamar Gardere

Urban Institute, The Data Center

Link on Urban Wire
June 18, 2024
Blog post - By: Robert Habans, Haleigh Tomlin

The Data Center

Blog Post
June 18, 2024
Report - By: Robert Habans, Haleigh Tomlin

The Data Center

Link
April 2, 2024
Blog post - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Blog Post
November 9, 2023
Meeting Materials - By: Leah Hendey, Lamar Gardere

Urban Institute, The Data Center

PDF
January 24, 2023
Video - By: Black Wealth Data Center

The Data Center

October 27, 2022
Presentation - By: Jenna Losh

The Data Center

Slides
October 27, 2022
Video - By: Sara Jaye Sanford, Cheryl Knott, Elly Schoen, Jenna Losh, Elizabeth Burton (Moderator)

Urban Institute, Communities Count, Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance, Neighborhood Data for Social Change, The Data Center

April 5, 2022
Report - By: Amy Teller , Robert Habans

The Data Center

Report
January 10, 2022
Report - By: Robert Collins

The Data Center

Report
September 14, 2021
Report - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Report
November 3, 2020
Job Description - By: The Data Center

The Data Center

PDF
October 31, 2020
Digital Feature - By: Katrina Andry, Erica Amrine, Allison Plyer, Dabne Whitemore, Jenna Losh, Don Asay, Robby Habbans, Lamar Gardere, Cody Brumfield, Amy Teller, Rachel Weinstein, Ellen Kujawa

The Data Center

The Coastal Index Dashboard
October 31, 2020
Digital Feature - By: Katrina Andry, Erica Amrine, Allison Plyer, Dabne Whitemore, Jenna Losh, Don Asay, Robby Habbans, Lamar Gardere, Cody Brumfield, Amy Teller, Rachel Weinstein, Ellen Kujawa

The Data Center

October 31, 2020
Digital Feature - By: Katrina Andry, Erica Amrine, Allison Plyer, Dabne Whitemore, Jenna Losh, Don Asay, Robby Habbans, Lamar Gardere, Cody Brumfield, Amy Teller, Rachel Weinstein, Ellen Kujawa

The Data Center

June 8, 2020
Blog post - By: Olivia Arena, Kathy Pettit

Community Information Now (CINow), The Data Center, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, University Center for Social and Urban Research, Urban Institute

Link
June 14, 2019
Meeting Materials - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

PPTX
November 7, 2018
Presentation - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

October 12, 2017
Video - By: Jake Cowan, Denice Ross, Jie Wu

Kinder Institute for Urban Research, The Data Center

Session materials
October 12, 2017
Presentation - By: Denice Ross, New America

The Data Center

PPTX
May 18, 2017
Meeting Materials - By: Olivia Arena, Louise Carter, Bernardo Espinosa, Camille Seaberry, Bernita Smith

Urban Institute, Communities Count, The Data Center, DataHaven, Neighborhood Nexus

NNIP Baltimore 2017_Ignite Part 2.docx
May 18, 2017
Presentation - By: Bernardo Espinosa

The Data Center

PowerPoint Presentation
March 10, 2017
Job Description - By: The Data Center

The Data Center

PDF
June 15, 2016
Blog post - By: The Data Center

The Data Center

Infographic
February 18, 2016
Presentation - By: Caroline Heffernan

The Data Center

PPTX
October 19, 2015
Job Description - By: Dr. Vicki Mack

The Data Center

DOC
July 31, 2015
News article - By: Richard Webster, NOLA.Com

The Data Center

Link to News Article
July 15, 2015
Report - By: Marla Nelson, University of New Orleans, Laura Wolf-Powers, City University of New York, Jessica Fisch, Georgia Institute of Technology

The Data Center

PDF
July 8, 2015
Report - By: Stacy Seicshnaydre , Ryan C. Albright

The Data Center

Link
June 19, 2015
News article - By: Leon Neyfakh

The Data Center

Link
June 17, 2015
Report - By: Judge Calvin Johnson, Mathilde Laisne, Jon Wool

The Data Center

Criminal Justice: Changing Course on Incarceration
June 1, 2015
Report - By: Judge Calvin Johnson (Ret.), Mathilde Laisne, Jon Wool

The Data Center

Link
April 20, 2015
Report - By: Nihal Shrinath, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Link
April 16, 2015
Presentation - By: Vicki Mack

The Data Center

PPT
March 11, 2015
News article - By: Alexanda Derian

The Data Center

PDF
February 26, 2015
Report - By: Vicki Mack

The Data Center

PDF
PDF, Slides, Excel Tables
December 23, 2014
Report - By: Nihal Shrinath, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Link
August 6, 2014
Report - By: Vicki Mack, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Link
April 20, 2014
Report - By: George Hobor, Allison Plyer, Ben Horwitz

The Data Center

The Coastal Index: The Problem and Possibility of Our Coast
April 4, 2014
Presentation - By: Ben Horwitz

The Data Center

PPTX
December 18, 2013
News article - By: Nathan C. Martin

The Data Center

Link
September 19, 2013
Video - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

New Orleans Index at Eight: Video Briefing
August 14, 2013
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz, Ben Horwitz, George Hobor

The Data Center

The New Orleans Index at Eight
August 14, 2013
Video - By: Greater New Orleans Community Data Center

The Data Center

How We Use Data: Stories from Community Leaders
April 16, 2013
Report - By: Elaine Ortiz, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Economic Synergies across Southeast Louisiana
January 9, 2013
Report - By: Susan Sellers, Elaine Ortiz, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Link
November 6, 2012
Presentation - By: Ben Horwitz

The Data Center

Link
October 18, 2012
Presentation - By: Elaine Ortiz, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Slides: Who Lives in New Orleans and the Metro Area Now?
September 20, 2012
Report - By: Elaine Ortiz, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Who Lives in New Orleans and the Metro Area Now?
September 13, 2012
Presentation - By: Ben Horwitz

The Data Center

Pre-Recorded PPT
August 21, 2012
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz

The Data Center

Benchmarks for Blight: How much blight does New Orleans have?
August 14, 2012
Report - By: Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), Greater New Orleans Community Data Center

The Data Center

Assets & Opportunity Profile: New Orleans
July 25, 2012
Report - By: Elaine Ortiz, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Neighborhood Growth Rates: Growth in New Orleans neighborhoods continues in 2012
July 10, 2012
Video - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Link
June 28, 2012
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz

The Data Center

Poverty in Southeast Louisiana Post–Katrina
June 15, 2012
Website - By: Allison Plyer, Ben Horwitz, Melissa Schigoda, Elaine Ortiz

The Data Center

Neighborhood Data Profiles
April 9, 2012
Report - By: Elaine Ortiz, Allison Plyer, Ben Horwitz

The Data Center

Link
March 27, 2012
Report - By: Susan Sellers, Andre Perry, Petrice Sams–Abiodun, Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz

The Data Center

Link
November 16, 2011
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz, Kathryn L.S. Pettit, Chris Narducci

The Data Center

Link to report, Link to video
October 28, 2011
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz, Ben Horwitz

The Data Center

Link
August 31, 2011
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz

The Data Center

Link
August 11, 2011
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz

The Data Center

Link
June 2, 2011
Report - By: Elaine Ortiz, Allison Plyer

The Data Center

PDF
November 30, 2010
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz, Kathryn L.S. Pettit

The Data Center

Link
November 15, 2010
Video - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Link
July 13, 2010
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Richard Campanella

The Data Center

Link
January 15, 2010
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz, Kathryn Pettit

The Data Center

Link
November 18, 2009
Report - By: Allison Plyer

The Data Center

Link
November 12, 2009
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Elaine Ortiz, Margery Austin Turner, Kathryn L.S. Pettit

The Data Center

Link
October 18, 2007
Presentation - By: Denice Warren, Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, Jonathan Padgett, Via Link

The Data Center

PDF
Audio of webinar
May 1, 2007
Report - By: Allison Plyer, Joy Bonaguro

The Data Center

PDF
July 31, 2005
Presentation - By: Allison Plyer, Jake Cowan

The Data Center, Urban–Greater DC

PPT
August 11, 2004
Report - By: Tanisha Anderson, Nellie Becker, Julie Darnton, Yong-Jun Shin

The Data Center, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, (Inactive) The Providence Plan, Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance

LINK

Partner Webinars

December 31, 1969

Allison Plyer (the Data Center in New Orleans) and Laura McKieran (CINow in San Antonio) share strategies for presenting imperfect data to help audiences interpret and use the data appropriately.... [read more]

Presenters Allison Plyer, Laura McKieran, Kathy Pettit (moderator)
December 31, 1969

Addressing the racial wealth gap and building individual and community wealth is a central component of reaching NNIP’s vision of all neighborhoods becoming places where people can thrive. Local... [read more]

Presenters Miranda Santillo, Lamar Gardere, Haleigh Tomlin