Accelerate Columbus:

Data Readiness Workshop Series


The Data Readiness Workshop Series is a practical, people-centered cohort training experience designed to advance your skills for data collection, management, analysis, and reporting. The Accelerate Columbus training cohort consists of three in-person sessions in Spring 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Each session is held over a two-day period.


Through sponsorship from the City of Columbus, our Data Readiness workshop series will be delivered in-person starting April 23, 2026 at no cost to qualifying Columbus, Ohio non-profits.


We are now accepting applications for the waitlist. Participants will be accepted from the waitlist on a rolling basis.

Put Your Data to Work for You and the People You Serve

Data readiness isn't about spreadsheets or systems. It’s about people. It’s about understanding your impact, telling your story, and making the work you do every day a little easier, not heavier. See details about our Data Readiness Workshops Series below.

Session 1: Building the Foundation: Data Collection, Storage & Analysis
Thurs. April 23, 2026, 9 am - 4 pm and
Fri. April 24, 2026, 9 am - 4 pm

We start with your reality. This session helps you take stock of your current data practices, clarify what information actually matters, and strengthen your logic model and evaluation plan. Together, we’ll explore how to collect data more intentionally, reduce duplication and inefficiencies, and begin organizing information in ways that support learning and do not overwhelm. You will leave with a draft data plan outline that you can continue refining throughout the series. 

Session 2: Turning Information into Insight: Data Reporting and Use
Thurs. May 14, 2026, 9 am - 4 pm and
Fri. May 15, 2026, 9 am - 4 pm

Data only adds value if it’s usable. In this session, we focus on making sense of what you collect and using it with intention. You’ll learn how to share data responsibly, incorporate public data to add context, and engage community voices in evaluation. We’ll also explore data storytelling and how to communicate impact clearly to funders, partners, and stakeholders using both numbers and narrative. 

Session 3: Putting It All Together: Data Plan Presentations
Thurs. June 4, 2026, 9 am - 4 pm and
Fri. June 5, 2026,  9 am - 1 pm

This final session is about confidence and clarity. Participants prepare and present their updated data plans and receive supportive feedback from facilitators and peers. Plans may include collection strategies, analysis approaches, and technology considerations tailored to your organization’s capacity. You’ll also receive one-on-one technical assistance and learn from other cohort members, so everyone leaves stronger than they started. 

Our Team is Here For You

Our team is committed to supporting you on the Data Readiness journey. We have instructional designers, subject experts, project managers, and trainers to ensure you have a productive experience. You will work most closely with the team members listed below.

Deepika Andavarapu, PhD

Trainer

Dr. Deepika Andavarapu is the Founder and CEO of DEEP Consultants, an urban planning scholar, evaluator, and community researcher with more than sixteen years of experience working at the intersection of equity, systems, and social impact.


Her work spans program design and evaluation, strategic planning, capacity building, and federally funded initiatives. Deepika brings academic training and methodological expertise into applied settings, supporting organizations in translating complex information into insight that can guide action.


As a researcher, she has produced published scholarship on social capital and community resilience, with a particular focus on historically disenfranchised communities. She is a published author and public speaker, and has presented her work nationally, including at a TEDx conference.


Deepika has served as an external evaluator on federal and state-funded initiatives, designing and implementing evaluations that meet the requirements of agencies such as CNCS and HRSA while supporting continuous learning and improvement.




Autumn L. Smith

Project Manager

Autumn Smith, Project Manager, coordinates and tracks client projects and internal improvement projects for Scale Strategic Solutions. She has been instrumental in supporting training development projects, a community health needs assessment and research and evaluation projects. Autumn has worked with clients including Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ohio Partners for Cancer Control, the West Ohio Regional Prevention Council of the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund, bi3, Briljent, Inc., Cincinnati State Community College and the National Association of City and County Health Officials. Autumn has also developed content for training and development for the Vermont Department of Health in her role.  


Before joining the Scale team, Autumn worked as a Program Manager at Women Helping Women and was the Regional Prevention Center Director at NorthKey Community Care. In each of her previous roles, Autumn oversaw multiple projects while developing new systems and policies to advance and evolve her departments. Autumn has worked closely with local agencies and communities on needs assessments and work plans and has sat on multiple workgroups and coalition boards. She has expertise in program and project management, community and public health, and strategic planning. Autumn has a bachelor’s degree in Community and Public Health from Ohio University and is currently working towards her Master of Business Administration and project management professional (PMP) certification.


Calista H. Smith, PMP, MBA

Trainer

Calista Smith, President of Scale Strategic Solutions, has served as project manager and lead consultant on several management and professional development projects. She developed and taught the strategic planning modules for the Nonprofit Leadership Council BOLD program. She created training content for the Ohio Department of Health and Vermont Department of Health eLearning modules on serving all residents in population health and for the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Youth Human Trafficking Prevention program. She also managed the NACCHO data sharing training initiative. She has coached or facilitated state higher education systems and postsecondary institutions in organizational change nationally from Massachusetts to California.  


 At various points in her career, she has conducted strategic planning for nonprofit organizations including the Center for Community Health Worker Excellence, CPS Strong, Forever Kings, GRAD Cincinnati, Greater Edgemont Community Coalition, Institute for Higher Education Policy, Lydia’s House, Middletown Moving Forward, What If Middletown Community Visioning Process, and MetroParks of Butler County. Smith also served as the project manager on the Columbus New Skills Ready Network for Ohio Excels. She also conducted interviews and developed summaries for the MORPC study with New Reach Community Consulting. Calista has also managed several program evaluations of nonprofits, including evaluations for Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services , the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and the Western and Southwest Councils of the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund,  


 Calista earned a bachelor’s degrees from Villanova University in Communications. She also earned a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on non-profit management from the University of Michigan. Calista is a certified project management professional (PMP) . 


 

Apply for Waitlist

Applications from Columbus, Ohio nonprofits are accepted on a rolling basis. Selected applicants are required to complete a capacity assessment to confirm their participation in the program. At this time, we have reached our initial capacity. However, we are continuing to accept applications for our waitlist.


For more information about the program, contact Autumn Smith at als@scalestrategicsolutions.com.

FAQs

Professionals from Columbus, Ohio nonprofits that serve individuals and families. We are seeking  one represetative from the organization who works closely on data collection, analysis, and/ or reporting. 

You will attend all the listed dates for a total of 5.5 days of training workshops. Each session is spread over two days in a workshop format so that participants can complete meaningful tasks useful for their organization.

There is no cost to Columbus, Ohio nonprofits. The City of Columbus is sponsoring this training. 

Trainers will be available to answer follow up questions to participants in designated office hours between sessions. The program does not include detailed, one-on-one technical assistance outside of session time or office hours.

We ask that one person per organization apply so that as many organizations as possible can benefit from the training.