Dear friends,

I want to thank everyone who joined us at the Data Activism event at the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Center in partnership with the Barnard Department of Computer Science and Barnard Library. You can listen to the full audio of my keynote and access the accompanying slides below.

I do not believe in coincidences but in divine timing. I am proud that we were able to support the demands of students to ensure an environment free of persecution for a diversity of political beliefs, and know that only through open dialogue can we overcome the polarization driven by need for social media platforms to optimize for profit, not political education and conscious raising, in a time multiple crises amounting to genocidal proportions. I am also thrilled that our team jumped at the opportunity to relocate the event to the Shabazz Center.

Now more than ever we must do data activism. We do this by becoming Movement Scientists wherever we are. Movement building is an art and a science, and one of the most powerful technologies at our disposal. It requires what money cannot buy, and what can only be enabled by technology not spurred by it: sweat equity, hard work, vision, a passion for working creatively with intelligent machines and a commitment to ensuring that its exponential power will be used for the good of all humanity.

I have spent the last six years working across the U.S. and the world to plant the seeds of a global movement. And I have done this through the development of conferences, convenings, concerts, innovative programs, workshops, training, as well as one-on-one mentorship and coaching through the ever growing and ever impactful work of Data for Black Lives.

Today it is with great excitement that we announce the open call for the inaugural class of fellows. Fellows will be awarded up to $50,000 to develop their project over a period of 12 months. Project proposals should address any of the following themes: climate gentrification, water and food access, policing, surveillance, social determinants of health, and more, with a focus on the wellbeing of Black communities.

I look forward to reading your proposals and learning more about your ideas for how we can use this moment of crises for opportunity.

Many thanks,

Yeshimabeit

A Movement Scientist is equipped with the skills, vision, creativity, and empathy needed to harness the power of data for social change.

Advanced automated systems such as artificial intelligence technologies are widely adopted in private, governmental, and public settings. This revolution presents new challenges that require a new type of leadership to address. People who can operate across silos, disciplines and are willing to break down the barriers that isolate the people who build the technology from those most directly impact it.

Since our inception, Data for Black Lives has been developing Movement Scientists, a term coined by our Founder and a central theme of our national conferences. Through training, workshops, lectures, keynotes, volunteer programs, reports, one-on-one mentorship, and coaching, we have supported thousands of people in reclaiming data as a tool instead of a weapon.

Today we announce the open call for our first class of Movement Scientists Fellows. Fellows will be awarded up to $50,000 to develop their project over a period of 12 months. Project proposals should address any of the following themes: climate gentrification, water and food access, policing, surveillance, social determinants of health, and more, with a focus on the wellbeing of Black communities.