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In-Depth Notes from Webinar with Sarah Williams on Social Data for Public Empowerment

  • Introduction

    • Welcome to the third webinar in the social data in action series.
    • Speaker: Sarah Williams from MIT.
    • Topic: Utilizing social data for public empowerment in the US and beyond.

  • Speaker Profile

    • Sarah Williams is an Associate Professor of technology and urban planning at MIT.
    • Director of the Civic Data Design Lab and Leventhal Centre for Advanced Urbanism.
    • Focuses on urban policy issues and civic change through data action.
    • Recently published a book titled "Data Action" by MIT Press.

  • Acknowledgment of Traditional Custodians

    • The host acknowledges the hosting location's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
    • Pays respect to elders and recognizes the diversity of Aboriginal cultures.

  • Webinar Format

    • Duration: Sarah will speak for about 30 minutes.
    • Attendees encouraged to ask questions in the chat, addressed post-presentation.
    • Recording of the session will be available.

  • Sarah's Work and Methodology

    • Interdisciplinary approach: Combines geography, architecture, urban planning, and data science.
    • Emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teams for effective data action.

  • Example of Data Action - Million Dollar Blocks Project

    • Project examines public spending on incarceration vs. preventive measures.
    • Maps created highlighting areas with significant incarceration costs.
    • Demonstrates potential reallocation of funds to education and healthcare.
    • Illustrates the impact maps had on legislation, including the Criminal Justice Reinvestment Act of 2020.

  • Concept of Data Action

    • Data action involves:
    • Asking the right questions.
    • Finding/collecting appropriate data.
    • Analyzing and interpreting data.
    • Visualizing results for broad audiences.
    • The aim is to highlight the power of data in facilitating civic change.

  • Challenges with Big Data

    • Recognition of the exponential increase in data availability, often compiled by private companies.
    • Risks of data misuse and marginalization of certain populations.

  • Historical Context of Data Usage

    • First chapter discusses the historic misuse of data to enforce structural racism and marginalization.
    • Explains gerrymandering through Thomas Hofflitter's example.

  • Innovative Data Collection Techniques

    • Importance of building necessary data where gaps exist.
    • Discussion of the Beijing Olympics air quality project using data collection technology.

  • Community Empowerment and Engagement

    • Advocated for collective data collection to create stronger communities.
    • Example of the Vacant Developments project, demonstrating the power of community-driven data collection.

  • Data as a Public Good

    • Emphasizes the need for data to be perceived as a commodity that should be shared equitably.
    • Highlights the importance of ethical guidelines in data collection and utilization.

  • Core Principles of Data Action

    1. Do No Harm - Analyze potential impacts and implications of data use.
    2. Build Teams - Foster collaboration among diverse skill sets for improved results.
    3. Change Power Dynamics - Use data as a tool for empowerment.
    4. Expose Hidden Systems - Identify and reveal systemic issues.
    5. Ground Truth - Validate data findings with real-world observations.
    6. Share Data - Open up data for community use and involvement.
    7. Create Ethical Standards - Develop and adhere to ethical data practices.

  • Conclusion

    • Reinforces the transformative potential of data when used ethically for civic engagement and policy change.
    • Encourages further discussions on effectively utilizing data.

  • Follow-Up

    • Future webinars in the series will cover related topics like AI and public engagement.
    • Continuous collaboration encouraged among attendees.