Learn How to Bring the Upward Mobility Data Walk To Your Community

5 Min Read

Apr 09, 2026

By

Cynthia Snyder, M.A., Avanthi Chatrathi, M.P.H., Samiyah Para-Cremer Moore, M.Sc.,

Ivan Williams, M.B.A.,

Viktoria Sterkhova, M.P.H., Stewart Cole, Wen-Chieh Lin, Ph.D.
A graphic that says, "Upward Mobility Data Walk" shows doctors people and arrows pointing up.

Generate discussion around upward mobility in your community with the innovative data walk approach. The Kansas Health Foundation and Kansas Health Institute are partnering to offer the Upward Mobility Data Walk posters and materials for communities around Kansas to reserve free-of-charge.

The Kansas Health Foundation describes upward mobility as the ability to stabilize, thrive and make choices over time without losing connection to culture, community or self. However, four in 10 Kansas households earn less than the ALICE Survival Budget, or the bare minimum cost of household essentials to live and work. Economic conditions are closely linked to health. Improving financial conditions can support better health outcomes and expand opportunities for both people and their communities to thrive.

Data walks are effective and engaging ways to explore upward mobility in Kansas through peer-to-peer conversation. During a Data Walk, participants in small groups walk around a room, view data posters, and discuss underlining issues and creative policy and system-focused solutions. Eight posters highlight key data related to upward mobility in Kansas.

Some of the Kansas data discussed included:

  • About half (53.8 percent or $36,996) of the Survival Budget is needed to cover food, child care and housing costs for a family of four with two children in child care.
  • Less than half of younger adults (age 34 or younger) own their home while more than 70 percent of adults age 35 to 84 own their own home.
  • Premium increases in Kansas for employer-sponsored health insurance have outpaced the rate of inflation over the past 10 years.

For more information, contact us at datawalk@khi.org.

Interested in bringing the Upward Mobility Data Walk to your community?

Submit a Request

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the data walk model?  

The data walk model centers around community storytelling. During a data walk, participants in small groups walk around a room, view data posters and discuss underlying issues and creative policy and system-focused solutions. Data walks connect secondary data to the local community context, so it is important to have community champions involved in data walk planning and implementation.

The data walk model is cyclical and starts with participants interacting with the data. Participants are then asked to individually interpret the data. Data walks require this individual interpretation and group sensemaking. This is when participants are encouraged to come up with their own perspectives on the data, which they then share with and learn from their peers. There is no presenter — rather, all the information needed to interpret the data is on the posters. Participants are asked to interact with and make sense of the data using their experience and knowledge of their community. After the data walk, participants are called upon to try something new. They are asked to work collaboratively with their peers to implement innovative strategies and interventions to address hunger in their communities.

Is there a cost to reserve the Upward Mobility Data Walk materials?

No. The data walk materials are available free of charge.

Can anyone reserve the Upward Mobility Data Walk posters?

The posters can be reserved by anyone living within Kansas. However, we strongly encourage you to partner with other local businesses, coalitions, organizations, schools and nonprofits to develop a plan for your event. The most successful data walks are hosted in collaboration with others in your community to ensure that you can best reach your intended audience. The Upward Mobility Data Walk can be used for a full event, a component of an existing event or as a meeting or classroom activity.

How long can I reserve the Upward Mobility Data Walk materials?

The reservations work like a library loan. You may reserve the posters for up to one (1) month at a time. During this time, we encourage you to use the posters to generate conversations at multiple community gatherings and events. Extensions to the reservation may be considered based on waiting list, but are not guaranteed.

Where can I pick up the posters?

Once your request has been approved, we will work with you to coordinate pickup of the Upward Mobility Data Walk materials from either the Kansas Health Institute (Topeka) or Kansas Health Foundation (Wichita) offices. Following the reservation period, the Data Walk materials must be returned to the same location.

How big are the posters?

Each poster is approximately 6 x 2.5 feet when expanded. Each of the 8 unique posters comes in a roll-up stand and carrying case and fit easily in a car backseat or trunk. Each poster inside the carrying case is approximately 2.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 feet.

How will I know if my request has been approved?

All data walk requests will be reviewed in the order received. You will receive email confirmation that your request has been approved and the team will coordinate next steps with you.

Individual posters are available in the Documents & Downloads section. Access text-friendly versions of the posters for screen readers here.

About Kansas Health Institute

The Kansas Health Institute supports effective policymaking through nonpartisan research, education and engagement. KHI believes evidence-based information, objective analysis and civil dialogue enable policy leaders to be champions for a healthier Kansas. Established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KHI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization based in Topeka.

Learn More About KHI