Testing Community-Based Public Safety Indicators in East Oakland

Project Context:

• Local leaders in East Oakland wanted to develop a greater capacity for collaborative, neighborhood-based, resident-driven problem-solving to address local issues by increasing the quality of information available on public safety advocacy initiatives and progress on policy interventions. 
• In 2024, Rise East – a place-based initiative seeking to advance economic, educational, health, and safety outcomes for residents in the 40×40 neighborhood of East Oakland, California – invited the GPL to provide research support on a project to improve residents’ sense of safety in their neighborhoods.  
• In response, Rise East leaders are building a community data trust as a repository for resident-generated safety data on topics such as use of public space, recreation, and traffic safety. 

How the GPL is Supporting: 

• Testing and evaluating new indicators of safety based on resident input collected through Rise East’s network of community-based organizations. 
• Identifying opportunities to integrate resident data collection strategies into community and government agencies’ existing processes to track progress on safety goals.  
• Equipping public safety leaders with more nuanced data on what residents are experiencing and offering data-driven performance management support to uncover whether current public safety solutions and policies effectively address resident safety concerns.