Fionnuala Darby-Hudgens Joins Connecticut Data Collaborative

Fionnuala Darby-Hudgens has joined the Connecticut Data Collaborative as Director of Data Strategic Planning. Darby-Hudgens, a Norwich resident, brings extensive experience to the organization, most recently as Director of Operations for the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.

The Connecticut Data Collaborative (CT Data) is a public-private partnership that advocates for the public availability of open and accessible data, serving nonprofits, advocates, policymakers, community groups, and funders in using data to drive policy and improve programs and services, budgeting and decision making at the state, regional and local levels.

Data Strategic Planning is CTData’s new social enterprise service that is designed to help organizations improve how they measure their impact and fulfill their mission. Organizations that participate in data strategic planning are provided 12 – 18 months of training and consulting. The first cohorts in the new initiative are just underway, the most recent launching this month.

The initiative supports organizations through decision-making and implementation, with the goal being to improve capacity, resource allocation, increase revenue, and support future development initiatives. During the strategic planning process, organizations develop questions about their organization, and then use their own data to help answer those questions.

Darby-Hudgens work in Connecticut is widely known and highly regarded. Most recently, she served as Director of Operations for the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, after serving as Community Education & Outreach Program Coordinator for the organization. She is considered a subject matter expert on housing and land use policy, restorative justice, and community education and has research expertise focused on disparities in housing and education.

CTData Executive Director Michelle Riordan-Nold said that Darby-Hudgens’ “familiarity with Connecticut’s nonprofit community, and the challenges advocates encounter while trying to advance their missions, will be particularly valuable.” Additionally, Riordan-Nold noted Darby-Hudgens’ experience interacting with the legislature, media, and philanthropic organizations, will “help Data Strategic Planning clients measure their impact with these constituents and increase their capacity to advance their goals.”

“I have been a long-time fan and consumer of CTData, and I am truly delighted to be here working with Michelle and the CTData team," said Fionnuala “Finn” Darby-Hudgens. “Leading Data Strategic Planning enables me to put many of my skills and experiences to work in a single role! I will be able to use my teaching, nonprofit management, and development successes to help other organizations, foundations, and agencies improve their work! It is wonderful to be on the capacity building side of mission-driven work.”

In previous roles, Darby-Hudgens has been responsible for securing and reporting on private, state, and federal funding opportunities, gaining extensive firsthand experience and a thorough understanding of how difficult it is to measure impact to secure adequate resources.

“With Data Strategic Planning,” she explained, “I can help organizations build in processes to streamline reporting measures and increase capacity for resource development.”

Earlier in her career, Darby-Hudgens implemented and ran new developmental education programs within Connecticut’s Community College System, where she now serves as an adjunct faculty member. She also has had a number of roles in the private sector working with community-based organizations, is a volunteer member of numerous local boards, and earned a B.A. from Trinity College and an MPA from the University of Connecticut.

CT Data empowers an ecosystem of data users by democratizing access to public data and building data literacy skills. CTData serves residents, nonprofits, policymakers, and funders in using data to drive policy, program, and service improvements. The organization strives to promote and engage data users in implementing equitable data practices across the state.

More than 200 data sets are now accessible to the public on the CTData website, including a wide array of subjects and policy categories. Most recently, CTData has added and analyzed newly released U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates for Connecticut and other data on topics including income, education, housing, health insurance, migration, and remote-working.

CTData program initiatives include the CTData Academy and Equity in Data Community of Practice. Customized Data Workshops and Data Consulting services are also available. Among its areas of responsibility, CTData has been designated as the lead organization for the State of Connecticut in the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Data Center Program.

CT Data offices are located on Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford; more information about the Data Strategic Planning initiative and other CTData programs and datasets is available on the website at ctdata.org.