What is data equity, and why is it important? As Joyce writes in this LinkedIn post, data equity “refers to the consideration, through an equity lens, of the ways in which data is collected, analyzed, interpreted, and distributed. It underscores marginalized communities’ unequal opportunities to access data and, at times, their harm from data’s misuse. It raises the issue of data sovereignty, and the democratization of data. And data equity pushes us to consider the ways that data can reinforce stereotypes, exacerbate problems like racial bias, or otherwise undermine social justice.” 

We provide workshops and trainings to familiarize people with the notion of data equity, and provide concrete examples to illustrate key data equity concepts:

• Data is not inherently neutral or objective

• Data can create and perpetuate power dynamics

• Data transparency generates trust, and trust advances data equity

We also provide guidance on demographic data collection, common data collection pitfalls to avoid, and promising practices that help people and organizations “walk the talk” of approaching data more equitably.

Photos above from selected data equity engagements: Top, from presentation to state affiliates of the National Council of Nonprofits ; middle, Joyce presenting during results workshop to Hawaii Community Foundation grantees; bottom, from handout on promising practices for demographic data collection.