Central Nova News

The City of Alexandria has been awarded a What Works Cities Silver Certification for its outstanding use of data and analytics to enhance the lives of its residents. This recognition, given by Bloomberg Philanthropies’ program, highlights Alexandria's commitment to evidence-based decision-making and places the city among the top leaders in the United States and Latin America in leveraging data for effective governance.

Alexandria is the second city in Virginia, following Norfolk, to receive this prestigious certification. The What Works Cities Certification program evaluates cities' utilization of data and evidence in their decision-making processes, establishing a national benchmark for excellence in data-driven city governance.

In response to the announcement, Mayor Justin Wilson expressed gratitude and acknowledged the city's efforts to move the community forward. He stated, "We are harnessing the power of data to make informed decisions and provide transparency on key issues. The process of achieving housing stability for our residents, addressing inequities in service delivery, and improving outcomes through initiatives like the Alexandria Co-Response Program (ACORP) are stronger thanks to this approach."

The City of Alexandria's Silver Certification highlights several notable examples of their effective use of data. One such example is the implementation of an automated system to gather information on eviction court proceedings. The data collected through this system informs the efforts of the Eviction Prevention Task Force, a partnership between the City and the community. By utilizing this data, the task force can provide targeted support to households at risk of eviction. As a result, the city has seen a remarkable success rate, with only 13 percent of eviction filings resulting in residents being removed from their homes.

Another significant achievement recognized by the Silver Certification is the Alexandria Co-Response Program (ACORP). An independent evaluation of ACORP revealed that when teams consisting of trained law enforcement officers and behavioral health clinicians responded to 911 calls that could have led to arrests, 70% of those incidents were successfully diverted from legal action. This innovative program demonstrates the power of data-driven decision-making in creating positive outcomes for both residents and the community as a whole.

Furthermore, the launch of the Equity Index Map in 2023 showcases the City's commitment to addressing disparities in social and economic outcomes. This tool enables City staff and community partners to make equitable, inclusive, and data-driven decisions, fostering a more just and inclusive community.

City Manager James Parajon acknowledged the collaborative effort of various City departments in achieving this certification. He stated, "We will continue working across departments to expand data practices and develop new ideas to improve the quality of life and methods to deliver efficient services to Alexandrians."

The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, sets the standard for excellence in data-informed and well-managed local government. It recognizes and celebrates local governments that effectively utilize data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate program effectiveness, and engage residents.

The City of Alexandria's achievement of the What Works Cities Silver Certification is a testament to their dedication to evidence-based decision-making and their commitment to improving the lives of their residents through data-driven governance.