If you care about Baltimore and have a thing for data – like this chart showing the soaring rate of rat complaints in recent years – check out Baltimore Data Day on Friday.

We found this rat report, and other fascinating factoids, on the website of the organizers of this day-long event – the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance – Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore.

“The purpose is three-fold – to give people an idea what data is available, to talk about how it’s being used, and to show how community groups can use it to effect change, said Matthew Kachura, program manager of BNIA-JFI.

Even for those who aren’t super-savvy about statistics, the July 22 event will have great value “as a terrific networking opportunity,” Kachura said.

Among the scheduled speakers, Deputy Mayor Christopher Thomaskutty, who will speak about the Open Baltimore initiative, Kathryn Pettit, of the Urban Institute and representatives from a host of city agencies, non-profits groups, faith-based groups, community organizations and foundations.

The annual conference is meant to help communities expand their capacity to use technology and data. Collaborators in planning the conference include the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Baltimore City Department of Planning.

It takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of Baltimore Thumel Business Center, at 11 W. Mount Royal Ave. For more information, contact Matthew Kachura, Program Manager of BNIA-JFI, at (410) 837-6651. If you want to attend, you need to sign up here.

Here’s an example of the kind of data displays BNIA folks are working up. This is from their Facebook page.