New Beginning

data
Turning what you do into data
Author

Eric Mai

Published

May 28, 2026

In my experience, I have seen so many organizations that misunderstand data and how to connect that data to their goals and mission. The below is an adaption of a brief guide that I wrote for staff at the City of Richmond.

Getting started

Turning what you do into data

Every single thing that you do here at your organization can be quantified and qualified in some way. The number of meetings you have with residents, the types of partners you are meeting with, the number of events you hold… the list can go on and on.

All of these activities have a specific purpose and goal. Otherwise, why are you doing what you’re doing?!

Are there some things that you do that aren’t part of an official program? Or maybe there are responsibilities from a job description that aren’t captured in a program? You should consider adding those things!

Let’s count all the things

This blog will feature:

  • Housing Policy Analysis: Deep dives into housing research, policy proposals, and data analysis
  • Data Insights: Visualizations and findings from various datasets
  • Professional Updates: Thoughts on my work and career journey
  • Random Musings: Anything else that catches my interest

Stay Connected

Feel free to reach out through my contact page if you have any questions or topics you’d like me to explore.

Thanks for reading!