The Data Stories Residency is an inaugural program created in partnership between Manhattan Neighborhood Network and Nellie Mae Education Foundation that supports data-driven leaders in turning research and community insights into impactful storytelling projects.
Across New England, community organizations, researchers, and advocacy campaigns collect powerful data on issues shaping everyday life — from education and housing to healthcare and economic opportunity. Too often, those insights remain buried in reports and research documents, never reaching the broader public in ways that inspire understanding, engagement, or action.
The Data Stories Residency was created to help change that.
This inaugural six-month hybrid residency brings together a cohort of 10 data-driven leaders from across the New England region to transform research and insights into compelling, professionally produced storytelling projects designed to engage audiences and spark dialogue.
Through a combination of virtual development, creative mentorship, and hands-on production support, residents will work alongside Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) mentors, creative partners, and technical production teams to shape narratives that make complex information accessible, human, and impactful.
The six-month hybrid residency guides participants through every stage of developing a data-driven storytelling project. Residents begin with virtual training, mentorship, and creative development focused on transforming research into accessible narratives. They then participate in an immersive, week-long production residency at MNN’s W38 Studios, where they work with creative and technical teams to film, edit, and complete their projects. In fall 2026, the finished stories will be shared through a coordinated distribution campaign across media, community, and partner channels.
The Data Stories Residency aims to:
The Nellie Mae Education Foundation (NMEF) is a place-based funder working across the six New England states. The foundation supports community-driven approaches that strengthen education ecosystems and advance opportunities for young people and families through collaboration, learning, and innovation.
For more than 33 years, Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) has been a home for activism, community, and media — a place where truth finds a voice and movements gain the power of visibility. As the nation’s largest community media organization, MNN provides thousands of residents annually with free and equitable access to media tools, training, production resources, and distribution platforms.
Kaitlyn Chantry is Chief Communications Officer at Education Resource Strategies (ERS), a national nonprofit that partners with K-12 district and state leaders to advance more equitable student experiences and outcomes. In her role, she leads the organization’s communications strategy, shaping ERS’s narrative, thought leadership, and external visibility across the education field. She translates complex issues in school finance, resource allocation, and systems change into accessible, compelling stories for policymakers, practitioners, funders, and the broader public. At ERS, Kaitlyn has played a central role in field-building and coalition work. In 2023-24, she led the narrative working group for the national Coalition to Reimagine the Teaching Job and, since 2023, has helped guide ERS’s leadership in the Alliance for Resource Equity. In 2022, she and the ERS team received a PIE Eddie Award for their work on reimagining the teaching role. In 2025, she served as lead author of '5 Intertwining Financial Challenges Districts Are Facing.'Kaitlyn has 25 years of experience spanning communications, marketing, journalism, and content strategy. Before joining ERS, she served as Director of Marketing at Year Up and previously held editorial leadership roles, including at USA TODAY and The Conversation. She holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.Ed. from Harvard University.
Born and raised in Harlem, Duanecia Evans Clark is a visionary leader and an accomplished education professional committed to social impact and responsibility. Her career has been dedicated to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities and ensuring every child receives a quality education. Duanecia is the Chief Strategy & Communications Officer at FaithActs for Education, a Connecticut-based nonprofit organizing people of faith through voter education, community organizing, and civic engagement. In this role, she leads strategy, communications, and fundraising efforts to build relationships, leaders, and power. Before joining FaithActs, Duanecia held several leadership positions at Teach For America (TFA). As Chief of Staff for the Washington D.C. region, she led strategy, talent acquisition and development, and communications. She also served as Senior Managing Director of Public Partnerships, managing national partnerships and driving social investment to support TFA's mission. During her tenure, Duanecia secured a $10 million grant from The Ballmer Foundation to launch the Black Educators Promise initiative, designed to increase the number of Black educators by providing financial support and retention incentives. Duanecia's commitment to education extends beyond her professional roles. She is a member of Education Leaders of Color, a membership organization supporting young people of color, and co-founded The Creative Summer Company, providing consulting services to Black-led businesses. Throughout her career, Duanecia has demonstrated a strong ability to develop strategic partnerships, secure funding, and drive meaningful change. Her work has focused on recruiting and retaining Black educators, advocating for equitable school discipline practices, and empowering underrepresented communities. With a master's degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University and recognition as a 2020 Pahara Institute NextGen fellow, Duanecia is a highly accomplished and respected leader in the field of education. Her vision, dedication, and people-centered approach have made a significant impact on the lives of countless students, educators, and communities.
Dr. Louis Esposito is an educator, researcher, and disability policy leader serving as Executive Director of ABLE NH, New Hampshire's statewide grassroots disability advocacy organization. Drawing on experience in special education, nonprofit leadership, and disability advocacy, he works at the intersection of policy, communication, and systems change to advance disability rights and build communities where everyone belongs. His work centers on advancing disability rights through advocacy, research, and public policy while fostering communities where people with disabilities are recognized as leaders, experts, and equal participants. He is passionate about making complex issues understandable, strengthening grassroots leadership, and building systems that reflect the experiences and priorities of the disability community. Louis lives in a small town in New Hampshire in a proudly neurodiverse household, an experience that shapes both his perspective and his leadership. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys chasing live bluegrass and jam band music, spending time with his family, and embracing a colorful, creative approach to life.
Nicole has extensive experience as a leader in educational policy and a track record of implementing large-scale education transformations through national, state and local collaborations. She also has practical experience in public education ranging from Pre-K through post-secondary learning. Her previous roles include Director of Government Relations with the NH School Boards Association, Bureau Administrator in Education Preparation for the NH Department of Education, and Director of Curriculum and Professional Development for SAU 39: Amherst, Mont Vernon and Souhegan school districts. In 2019, she joined Reaching Higher NH to serve as Director of the NH Alliance for College and Career Readiness. In 2020, she moved into the role of Executive Director for Reaching Higher.
Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Education from Stonehill College in North Easton, MA, a Master of Arts in Education Leadership from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, and has her Certification as a Critical Friends Group Coach by the School Reform Initiative. She is a resident of Amherst.
Dr. Jennifer Herring is a proven leader dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion and trauma-informed practices across educational systems. She is the author of Sexual Trauma in Educational Settings, a resource based on her doctoral research meant to support educators and caregivers of survivors of childhood sexual trauma. With deep experience in both school-based and district-wide administration in Randolph, Framingham, Lawrence, Cambridge and Roxbury, as well as doctoral-level expertise in educational leadership, Jennifer Herring is prepared to support Worcester Public School with strategies that enhance learning and foster positive outcomes for all district students. Throughout her career, Jennifer Herring has led transformative work in curriculum design, school and climate, and student experience - always through the lens of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). Dr. Herring is proficient in Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, English, and American Sign Language.She recently completed her doctoral studies at Lesley University, where she developed advanced skills in synthesizing and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data to coach emerging school-based and district leaders using data-driven insights to create equitable and responsive educational environments.
Kristen Kinchla, (she/they), goes by Kinch and is the Research Associate at the Maine Children's Alliance, a policy and advocacy nonprofit focused on improving the well-being of children and families through data-driven solutions and community-informed change. They are a passionate reproductive justice advocate and moonlight (quite literally) as a doula!
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Dr. Vanessa Monique Liles is an educator and passionate community organizer based in Bridgeport, CT. With a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University (2014 Graduate Diversity Fellow), she brings expertise in education policy, communities, and multicultural education. She holds an undergraduate degree in Black Studies and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's in elementary education, backed by 20 years of experience working with youth and communities. Driven by her mentors' legacy, Dr. Liles champions racial equity and justice with low-income public housing residents at PT Partners, a grassroots organizing initiative. As an activist researcher, she provides education, co-designs solutions, and leads strategic planning to advance racial justice in community health, education, and housing, with a focus on empowering communities through transformative learning and action.
Cindy Miranda is a communications and advocacy professional based in Providence, Rhode Island. Drawing on her Mexican and Guatemalan heritage and bilingualism, Cindy helps turn community voices into action through strategic communications, advocacy, and public policy. At the Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island (CMRI), Cindy leads communications strategy and advocacy initiatives to expand access to multilingual education for all students while strengthening pathways for bilingual educators. Cindy believes multilingual education isn't just for multilingual learners, it's an opportunity that enriches every student's educational experience. Her expertise spans strategic communications, coalition building, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. Most recently, she supported a statewide advocacy campaign that contributed to securing $750,000 in Rhode Island's amended state budget for multilingual education initiatives through strategic messaging, stakeholder engagement, and public awareness. Beyond her professional role, Cindy serves as Chair of the Year Up United Rhode Island Alumni Chapter and has held leadership roles in neighborhood revitalization and as Vice Chair of Rhode Island's first commercial tenant union. As a participant in the Data Stories Residency, Cindy is exploring how data, communications, and community narratives can work together to advance educational equity and create meaningful systems change.
Divya Nair is a Senior Policy Analyst for Children and Families at the Economic Progress Institute. She focuses on policies affecting Rhode Island's children and families, such as paid family leave, childcare, and cash assistance. She is dedicated to advancing equitable policies for working families in coalition with community partners. Divya holds a Bachelors in Gender and Health and a Master's in Social Work specializing in Policy Practice.
An experienced communicator and knowledge-builder, Darshni Patel uses her expertise in social media, communications, and public policy to engage audiences, connect communities, and drive productive conversations.As a Senior Engagement & Communications Associate at the School and State Finance Project, Darshni helps develop and execute the organization's community engagement and communications strategies. She focuses on developing new, creative ways to share information across audiences with varying degrees of knowledge, experience, and viewpoints.Before joining the Project, Darshni built her communications repertoire as a media specialist with Pam Stevens Media communicating directly with legislators. She also spent time at the Library of Congress as a Labs Fellow, connecting non-profits representing marginalized identities with the library's resources. Currently, she also volunteers her expertise at Desi Rainbow, a non-profit that connects queer South Asians and their families to culturally responsive support materials.In her free time, she loves to do anything creative; her latest hobbyist adventure is in creating ceramics.
Deborah M. Roy serves as the Director of Communications for New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR), a member-based nonprofit dedicated to the philosophy of doing well by doing good. With over 30 years of experience in design and marketing, Deborah brings a wealth of expertise to the organization, ranging from strategic planning and video production to AI integration and multimedia design. Her extensive background includes projects for industry leaders such as NASA, Agilent Technologies, 3M, and Philips. Deborah holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art and Bachelor’s degrees in Communications and Fine Art; she is proud to have graduated as the valedictorian of her class. Outside of her professional role, she is deeply committed to her community in Derry, where she volunteers regularly and teaches Tai Chi and Qigong classes designed to promote wellness among seniors. She resides in New Hampshire with her husband, two daughters, and their pets.
Brean Witmer is the Director of Research and Strategy at Great Schools Partnership, a Maine-based nonprofit that partners with schools and districts across New England to advance more equitable, student-centered education systems. Her work spans evaluation design, data visualization, and research translation — helping educators, families, and community partners understand not just what the data shows, but what it means and for whom. Brean believes data is most powerful when it's transparent, accessible, and held by the communities most affected by it. She works to pair quantitative trends with qualitative insight and local voice, so that schools and districts can move beyond assumptions and anecdotes toward decisions grounded in the full picture. Brean is based in Yarmouth, Maine, where she lives with her husband and two kids, Evie and Sam.
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