Gemeinschaft Home to join Urban Institute and Microsoft Effort to Use Data and Technology in Community-Based Project

Gemeinschaft Home is one of only 30 local organizations across the country selected to participate in the 2022 Catalyst Grant Program to use data and technology to advance racial equity in the criminal legal system in prevention, policing, and prosecution.

The program, spearheaded by the Urban Institute and the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative, seeks to build the capacity of community organizations to use technology to analyze, visualize, and share data to support community organizing, advocacy, and service provision. Each grantee will receive funds to cover project implementation; assistance on data, policy, and community engagement from the Urban Institute; access to Microsoft technology and related support; and peer learning opportunities.

Gemeinschaft Home is using the funds to work with Frederick Teye, Amanda Teye, Ph.D., and Jennifer Jacovitch, Ph.D., of the Applied Research and Evaluation Technologies (ARET) Group, a Harrisonburg-based software development collaborative, to create a customized, case management platform that will enable Gemeinschaft Home staff to securely collect, analyze, and report information about participants and program performance with community stakeholders. The ARET Group will also develop extensive user documentation and instructions and train all staff members in using the new software system.

The system (named “RESTART”) will provide a mechanism to systematically store and analyze data that can be used to track information—anonymously— about program participants and their experiences, for the purpose of improving program design and implementation, as well as participant outcomes, both at the organization and local policy levels. More importantly, the new platform will enable staff to work more efficiently in identifying participant needs and connecting them with appropriate service providers.  

​Read more about the program and the local projects on the Catalyst Grant Program website: https://www.urban.org/projects/catalyst-grant-program/2022-catalyst-cohort

About the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative
The Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative works to empower communities and advance racial equity in the justice system by providing grants to organizations as they support community members and policy makers working to prevent unnecessary justice system involvement and eliminate racial disparities in policing and prosecution practices. More information about the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative is available at Microsoft.com/JRI.

About the Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity. We are a trusted source for changemakers who seek to strengthen decision making, create inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of families and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered facts that inspire solutions—and this remains our charge today.