Delaware Data Innovation Lab is now a division of Tech Impact | #education | #technology | #training | #education | #technology | #infosec

Two socially minded tech orgs have joined forces for greater impact.

Delaware Data Innovation Lab (DDIL) was officially launched on Dec. 2, 2020 by data science company CompassRed after it received $2 million in New Castle County CARES Act funding. DDIL convened local companies within the data industry to find solutions to issues created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial projects included an eviction tracker, a FAFSA dashboard and a wastewater dashboard.

When it was created, two of the goals for the DDIL was that it would become a permanent nonprofit, and that it would become a separate entity from CompassRed. Within its first year, both of those things became a reality, as the organization continues to grow as a nonprofit run by associate directors Ryan Harrington and Héctor Maldonado-Reis.

Now, more evolution: DDIL is merging with Tech Impact, a Philadelphia-based provider of technology training, education and nonprofit solutions that recently acquired a permanent location on the Wilmington Riverfront for its ITWorks training program. The move positions DDIL as a division of Tech Impact.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Delaware Data Innovation Lab to the Tech Impact family,” said Patrick Callihan, executive director of Tech Impact, in a statement. “Our missions and strengths are well-aligned. Tech Impact is positioned to bring the infrastructure to the table while Data Lab brings the data, innovation, and social impact. Together, we are community-focused and leverage technology for positive impact.”

For DDIL, the merge allows its team to focus its energy on data and innovation rather than overhead.

“We have always known DDIL would evolve into an organization that was supported by others that would also benefit from data collaboration,” Maldonado-Reis said. “By merging with Tech Impact, we will be able to leverage their network and relationships with state agencies, nonprofits, and foundations across the U.S. while continuing to innovate, learn, and create impact from data-driven conversations for years to come.”

DDIL‘s current executive director, Anne Clauss, will step down from her role and exit the organization. Harrington, who is associate director of strategy and operations, and Maldonado-Reis, who is associate director of research development and analytics, will co-lead DDIL and report to Callihan at Tech Impact. The DDIL board of directors will remain in an advisory capacity.

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