Dear friends,

My favorite weekend activity is biking from my home downtown to the New York Public Library. Behind crowds of summer tourists, in the middle of a quiet exhibition hall, lives one of the original copies of what would become the Bill of Rights.

This faded document, one of the copies George Washington sent to the 13 colonies for approval, holds immense significance. Dated 1789, it contains twelve amendments, not the familiar ten, and notably, the First Amendment, which grants all Americans five core freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to assemble peaceably, and the right to petition the government, is listed third, not first.

Visiting this document is a powerful reminder that while our democracy is fragile, with its stained paper and faded ink, it also serves as a testament that democracy, governance, and accountability are not fixed. But are continually being shaped, and we contribute daily to this process through our collective actions, demands, and refusals. It begins with defining “We the people” in this 21st-century technosocial context.

With immense hope and excitement, we announce the inaugural class of Movement Scientist Fellows. From an outstanding 223 applications, we have selected five fellows whose work and lives embody the vision of the fellowship:  Dr. Kilan Bishop, who is building a national climate database to better understand climate change’s impacts on frontline communities. Zakiya Sankar Jabbar of Racial Justice Now! is building on her incredible work of documenting and scoring discipline policies in school districts across the country to ensure accountability at a time when math and STEM education are essentially crucial to our future. Dr. Avril Epps of AI for Abolition  is developing a large language model incorporating restorative justice practices to help communities navigate dealing with harm and self-governance as we imagine a world outside the current criminal justice system.

We are also thrilled to welcome two international fellows, Guillermo Bissoko of BlvkPaper from Spain, who is leading efforts to fight for black rights in a country where data on race is not collected. Still, an influx of African migrants and a growing black population presents new challenges but new opportunities for leadership and policy change. Bianca Kremer is working on examining the economic aspect of platform discrimination in Brazil, a country that’s home to the largest black population outside of Africa and whose policies regarding AI harms are deeply influenced by US policies.

You can read more about our fellows and their fantastic work on our website. RSVP to join us this November in Miami to share space with our fellows, hub leaders, volunteers, and our global Data for Black Lives community.

I am excited to share that my podcast is back! You can listen to the full episode, “We the People,” at the link below.

Much love, Yeshi

Approximately six workshops will be offered for 1–2.5 hour periods on November 19; each should anticipate a crowd of about 50–100 attendees.

Respond to the prompts below to apply to facilitate a workshop. Alternatively, you may submit a 1–2 page outline detailing your intended workshop to conference@d4bl.org by September 18, 2024.

We seek a Conference Planning Fellow for the 2024 event. The role involves managing logistics, communications, and program development. Requirements include motivation, independence, and a commitment to D4BL’s mission. This part-time position offers a stipend and the candidate must be based in Miami, FL.

The ideal candidate is highly motivated, works well independently, anticipates issues before they arise, and possesses a shared commitment to our mission. Applicants should be available to work 10–15 hours a week.