Full podcast available here (27 minutes long).
- Appleton Engaged podcast, hosted by Timber Smith and Andy Anam, featured Jason Schulist, Executive Director of the Fox Valley Data Exchange, discussing how the tool empowers the community through accessible public data.
- Schulist shared his background in Appleton and how his experience in business and community service led him to co-found the nonprofit in May 2023, officially launching the platform in October 2024.
- The platform offers free, centralized access to over 100 data points from national, state, and local sources, covering Appleton’s tri-county area (Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago).
- Users can explore, customize, and download visual data on demographics, health, housing, and wellbeing—updated automatically thanks to direct links with providers like the American Community Survey.
- The Data Exchange focuses on the seven Vital Conditions for Wellbeing, aiming to help communities embrace a growth mindset, using actionable data.
- Schulist emphasized collaboration—working with nonprofits, local governments, and businesses—and invited volunteers and funders to join efforts in marketing, data analysis, and framework design.
- The initiative has strong backing from community institutions such as the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region, Thrivent, United Way, ThedaCare, and Lawrence University.
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