This story originally appeared on VeloCityOKC.com.
Photo Courtesy: City of Oklahoma City
Results for America has named Oklahoma City one of 21 new cities across the Americas to receive the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification. The certification recognizes cities that effectively use data to shape policy, allocate resources, improve services, evaluate programs and engage residents.
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in 700 cities across 150 countries to drive change in arts, education, the environment, government innovation and public health. Launched in 2017 in partnership with Results for America, the What Works Cities Certification highlights local governments that use data to improve decision-making.
“Oklahoma City has a long history of using data to guide our decisions,” Mayor David Holt said. “It informs our budget, helps shape bond and MAPS initiatives, and ensures we are meeting residents’ needs. Achieving silver status is a significant accomplishment that reflects how our city operates.”
One program recognized through the certification is the OKC Fire Department’s evidence-based emergency response strategy. By using data, the department equipped two emergency units with mobile whole blood transfusion kits, allowing paramedics to administer transfusions before patients reach the hospital. The program has already provided life-saving treatment to about 100 trauma patients.
“Our mobile whole blood transfusion kits help paramedics and EMTs give patients the best chance of survival,” Fire Battalion Chief of Emergency Medical Services Carl Cobb said.
OKC’s Office of Innovation led the certification process, working with city departments to document data practices in budgeting, performance management, and initiatives such as the transfusion program and the Key to Home Partnership, which brings together more than 50 organizations to address homelessness. The office also helped establish a citywide Data Governance Board to improve data sharing, security, and decision-making.
“There is hard work happening across the city to use data effectively, much of it behind the scenes,” OKC Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Kelly Williams said. “The certification process allowed us to highlight that work and its impact.”
The What Works Cities Certification evaluates cities on 43 criteria across eight categories: data management, evaluations, leadership and capacity, open data, performance and analytics, data-driven budgeting, results-driven contracting and stakeholder engagement. A city that meets 51% to 67% of the criteria earns silver status, 68% to 84% qualifies for gold, and 85% or more achieves platinum.
“At a time when people are questioning the role of government, cities must use data to determine what works,” said Rochelle Haynes, managing director of the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification. “More than 100 cities are demonstrating what’s possible by investing the time, energy, and political capital to shift the culture of how local government works.”
James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the certification is one of the largest philanthropic efforts aimed at improving how local governments use data to serve residents.
“This work is helping reform-minded mayors modernize their organizations,” Anderson said. “Whether addressing housing shortages, reducing traffic fatalities, or improving public services, these city halls are using data, digital tools, and artificial intelligence to rise to the challenge—and we are thrilled to support their progress.”
Of the 21 newly certified cities, eight are in the United States: Burlington, Vermont; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Fort Worth, Texas; Newark, New Jersey; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Raleigh, North Carolina; Reno, Nevada; and Savannah, Georgia.
The certification program is open to cities in North, Central and South America with populations of at least 30,000. Learn more at whatworkscities.bloomberg.org.
