Getting The Data Right: Q & A
The Community Progress Report is grounded in accurate and verified data, thanks to the expertise and volunteer work of the DAG
For over 35 years, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow (TMT) has taken on the charge of creating a stronger community. By focusing on extensive collaboration with local partner agencies, businesses, government officials, schools, community coalitions, and other stakeholders, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow is dedicated to addressing the most significant challenges of our community. An essential historical part of this work has been the publication of what was formerly called the Community Wellbeing Report. For decades TMT published this critical report as a resource for our community. However, it has been nearly a decade since the past publication date of this type of report. With enormous changes in the Truckee Meadows since then, our community craves much needed engagement and information to help guide our growth in an informed and strategic manner. We hope this reborn Community Progress Report serves that need.
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Truckee Meadows Tomorrow is an organization all about community partnerships. Thus, we are thrilled to initiate this partnership with the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra. For nearly three decades, TMT has measured our community's progress on key quality of life indicators. These indicators represent our community value system. They're the things we all care about both for ourselves today and for our children tomorrow. Likewise, since 1942, the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS) has brought people together to give, advocate, and volunteer in ways that help children, families, and individuals realize their full potential.
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In partnership with United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow is at the forefront of community-wide service, engagement, and education. However, this work only continues to grow thanks to the efforts of its Community Partners and other stakeholders.
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This report provides information on education, safety, health, economics, and other topics to bring awareness to the many needs of our Truckee Meadows community. By identifying and understanding these underlying issues and problems, we can begin to work towards building a better community for all. We are asking the simple yet challenging questions:
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These data indicators offer you a place to begin. Meaningful change starts with you. We hope that you will take this report personally. Visit the TMT and UWNN websites to learn more about our work to improve the community. Collaborate with your neighbors. Volunteer at, give to, and get involved in local non-profit organizations. Invest in local businesses. Get out and attend local events. Engage in our political process. Vote. Together, let's improve the quality of life in our community.
TMT and UWNNS are authorities, change agents, and advocates for improving the community's quality of life through collaboration and partnership. Through TMT and UWNNS, our community is performing groundbreaking work in identifying community needs, shaping partnerships, and implementing solutions to preserve and enhance the great way of life we share in the Truckee Meadows. If you care about high-quality Nevada living, please read about what we are up to and join us!
The Truckee Meadows Tomorrow 2024-2026 Community Progress Report published on November 12, 2024! It includes all 10 Quality of Life areas with the most important data points selected by our Data Advisory Group and TMT team. You will find the same indicators and summaries in each online QOL area with links to NevadaTomorrow.org.
Print it out and take it with you for easy reading and reference.
The 2024-2025 Truckee Meadows Community Progress Report is more than just a collection of statistics—it is a story about the quality of life in our region told through data and narrative. Created as a collaboration between TMT and UWNNS, this report offers data-driven insights designed to illuminate our community's well-being.
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This report uses data from Nevada Tomorrow, an interactive platform led by TMT and Renown Health that includes more than 450 quality of life indicators. While not all of them are used in this report, all were reviewed to choose a targeted few for display and analysis. They are grouped into 10 quality of life areas to provide a framework for understanding and assessing the many factors that contribute to the community’s overall well-being.
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The data on NevadaTomorrow.org comes from many local, state, and national government sources, community health assessments conducted in partnership with organizations like Renown Health and Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH), and research conducted by TMT and its partners. In some cases, the most recent information may be only from 2022 or 2021. Data may be unavailable for a specific year due to challenges at the source, such as those faced by the United States Census Bureau during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. More technical notes are available on each indicator’s page.
Almost all data in this report can be found on Nevada Tomorrow and will be noted when it is not.
In choosing sources and data sets, TMT prioritizes data with a track record and a long history. So while we're open to new data, and in fact encourage people to collaborate on new data points, we prefer to showcase data with years and years behind it so that we can demonstrate trends as opposed to a snapshot in time.
It's important to note that data collection can sometimes be limited since the region primarily comprises smaller towns and rural communities outside the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area, which is also a medium-sized city. For that reason, some data, particularly comparisons to national statistics, cannot always be made or may not be available.
Reliable data is crucial for navigating change. This report provides our community with a clear, evidence-based understanding of where we stand and where improvement is needed. By presenting a balanced view of challenges and achievements, the report empowers policymakers, local leaders, nonprofits, businesses, and residents to collaborate effectively and prioritize initiatives to enhance our quality of life.
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Data highlights key areas where focused efforts can lead to significant improvements, such as increasing access to affordable housing or enhancing mental health services. By offering a transparent view of our community's strengths and areas for growth, the report fosters accountability and inspires action.
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Data is the cornerstone of strategic planning and decision-making. With the insights provided in this report, stakeholders can identify trends, allocate resources more effectively, and measure the impact of their initiatives.
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This report is more than just numbers—it's a call to action. When you dive into its pages, envision yourself as part of the solution. Whether you're a policymaker, a business leader, or a passionate resident, your role is crucial. Together, we can transform data into dialogue, insight into impact, and vision into victory. Join us as we embark on this journey of discovery and development. Let's measure what matters and make the Truckee Meadows a place where everyone thrives.
The Data Advisory Group (DAG) is dedicated to nurturing a thriving local data community while championing responsible data-sharing practices. ​Comprised of professionals from diverse data-related fields across various sectors, the DAG ensures a holistic approach to data stewardship. In addition to validating data integrity, DAG members serve as trusted experts, offering invaluable insights into the impact of the stories we convey through data.
Chris Galli
Tony Manfredi
Dennyse Sewell
Danielle Randol
Megan Berner, MFA
Lauren Beal
Justin Coran
Kyra Morgan
Heather Kerwin
Dina Hunsberger, Ph.D., MPH, CHDA
Kriste Clements-Nolle
Brad Johnson, Ph.D.
Carissa Bradley, MPA
Jeff Scott
Markus Kemmelmeier
Marlene Rebori
Nathan Digangi
Natasha Majewski
Mehmet Tosun, Ph.D.
David Schmidt
Meredith A. Levine
Danielle Randol
Marie Baxter
Eugenia Larmore, Ph.D., MBA
Jafeth E. Sanchez, Ph.D.
Laura Davidson, Ph.D.
Lesley Lechuga-Gomez
Anna Colquitt, Ph.D.
Markus Kemmelmeier
Heather Kerwin
Catrina Peters MS, MBA
Marie Baxter
Dr. Cyrus Dioun
Heather Kerwin
Nick Tscheekar
Charlotte Williams
Dr. Chang Hyun Seo, MSW
Anna Verbeke
Gar Gautam, MBA, MPH
Justin Coran
Kyra Morgan
Dr. Barrett Welch
Heather Kerwin
Dina Hunsberger, PhD, MPH, CHDA
Kriste Clements-Nolle
Mehmet Tosun
David Schmidt
Danielle Randol
Marie Baxter
Carissa Bradley, MPA
Cole Peiffer, AICP
Chrissy Klenke
Public Safety & Well-being
Krysti Smith, MPM
Cole Peiffer
Damien Kerwin
Jeremy Smith
Brian Beffort
Brad Johnson
Carissa Bradley
Chris Galli
Danielle Randol
Chrissy Klenke
Brendan Schnieder
Ben McMullen
Natasha Majewski
Kara Steeland
Chris Wright
Peter Reed
Dr. Chang Hyun Seo, MSW
Lesley Lechuga-Gomez
Damien Kerwin
Justin Coran
Markus Kemmelmeier
Nathan Digangi
Dina Hunsberger, Ph.D., MPH, CHDA
Chrissy Klenke
The Community Progress Steering Committee has developed a list of approximately 50 indicators that represent the most comprehensive picture of what is happening in our community - right here, right now. For ease of understanding, this list is only representative - and not fully inclusive - of all the data available. Links to view more data are available on each category's landing page.
Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra exist to enhance our community's quality of life. There are amazing changes taking place in our community. Whether you have lived in the Truckee Meadows for a brief time or many years, only you can appreciate how the nature of "change" influences personal perceptions of our community's quality of life.
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This report details approximately 50 indicators broken out into ten categories representing our collective quality of life. The indicators all meet the criteria of a "good" measure for quality of life. Each indicator is:
Our collective efforts deliver results; even so, there is room for improvement.
Indicators reflect success or serve as an early warning sign to redouble our efforts.
Data must be reliable and consistent and encourage tracking over time.
The data in this report is topical, timely, and current. TMT and UWNNS continually identify key community priorities for improvement and invite collaborations - supported by action plans - aiming to deliver results you want to see in your community.
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See the Quality of Life categories below and their associated indicators. As you continue to scroll, you will find separate sections for each quality of life category. Click each category icon to view the indicators and data. ​​
​TMT and UWNNS continue to evaluate our role in diversity, equity, and inclusion across the Truckee Meadows. Taking this work beyond a diversity statement is vital and is at the top of our priority list. Initial efforts, starting with our board of trustees and community education, are in progress with the goal of implementation in 2022-23.
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2021 County Health Rankings, updated quality of life data, educational statistics post-COVID-19, local economic information, and employment statistics are being monitored for future reports. Hopefully, as agencies and organizations have time to focus on data other than what pertains to COVID-19, more regular research and reports will continue and become available.
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Many nonprofits, including United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra and Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, saw decreases in revenue throughout 2020 and 2021. However, rebounding and recovering the funds lost will be critical to the survival and sustainability of many programs and services across the Truckee Meadows.
Thriving arts and culture have always been essential to the fabric of our northern Nevada community. However, good data that reflects the impacts of the arts and events on our community is hard to come by. TMT plans to partner with local arts organizations to understand better the intersection of art and culture, our sense of place and belonging, and our economic engine.
Nonprofits across Truckee Meadows depend on volunteers to run their organizations, serve clients, and further their mission. Yet, both the Nevada and national rates of volunteers giving their time and talent to nonprofits have declined since 2002. Find a cause that speaks to you and get involved. The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada or United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra are great places to get started.
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Financial gifts to Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra and other nonprofits help ensure greater program sustainability and are crucial to creating positive change in the Truckee Meadows.
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Policies and legislation create the systems we live by every day. Find the issues you care about, do the research, vote, and speak to legislators and representatives about what is best for your clients. A government is only as good as its people – so let's do our part.
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There is no shame in needing help. Whether with mental health, physical health, parenting skills, education, job skills, access to food, or any other need, there are people who are willing to help. Call 2-1-1 to get started.
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We never know the struggles each of us goes through daily. COVID-19, racial injustice, and political unrest have our country in turmoil. A little kindness, some grace, and a lot of hope can go a long way.
We are so grateful for the support of our corporate and agency partners, who are committed to helping people, strengthening families, and building a stronger, healthier, and safer community. Together, we are helping to develop the Nevada of tomorrow.
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You, too, can become a TMT partner! Become a Sponsor today!
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Thank you to the teams at Truckee Meadows Tomorrow and Flanz Media who worked tirelessly to bring this exceptional project to life. Special thanks to the TMT and UWNNS Boards of Directors who supported the creation of this report.
Truckee Meadows Tomorrow Board of Directors
Edward Estipona, President, Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, TMCC, State of Nevada Workforce Development and Estipona Group
Kristine Caliger, Vice President, Assistant Director, Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities; Board of Directors, Education Alliance; Board of Directors, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow.
Michele Montoya, Treasurer, Nevada Women's Fund, Nevada Day Treasure Hunt
Susan Kaiser,Secretary, WREA, Nevada Retired State Education Association, National Education Association - Retired
Annie Zucker, Immediate Past President, Children's Cabinet, Board for Communities In School, EDAWN Foundation, Connect Washoe, WCSD Safe and Healthy Schools Commission.
Kerry Eaton, Drinkwater Eaton law offices, the Employer wizard, DECS, Nevada state board of accountancy, NASBA
Nate Kusha, Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency
Nick Tscheekar, Volunteers of America, Reno Storytellers Toastmasters Club
JT Stark, WCSD & UNR
Danielle Randol, EDAWN
Francisco Vega, Northern Nevada Public Health
Krysti Smith, City of Reno
Alex Bacchus, Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development
Ray Gonzalez, NHS, Saint Mary’s, Community Health Alliance, Community Foundation, Gonzalez Morrow Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors