Press Release
Release date February 22, 2024
LA Tech4Good Successfully Concludes First Data Equity Skills Workshop Series of 2024
29 Social Impact Tech Leaders Received Free Skills Training In Equitable and Ethical Data Practices
February 22, 2024 | Los Angeles - LA Tech4Good, a nonprofit fostering social change by teaching equitable and ethical data practices, proudly announces the successful completion of its first virtual Data Equity Skills Workshop Series for the year.
Designed to empower individuals traditionally marginalized in data policy creation and implementation, the Data Equity Skills Workshop Series was conducted over three sessions in January at no cost to participants.
Through a thoughtfully curated curriculum, each session delved into crucial topics such as equity in data projects, data ethics, and the impact of AI and algorithms. To facilitate hands-on learning, participants brought their own data projects, allowing them to apply the practical tools and frameworks learned and foster equitable and ethical practices in their workplaces.
The January series was well-received by its 29 participants from 28 organizations across various industries such as technology, higher education, public health, and government. Participants from RedHat, Google, and One Degree, Inc., among other notable organizations, contributed to the series' dynamic and inclusive knowledge exchange. They brought expertise in policy, epidemiology, education, accessibility, nonprofits, privacy, and data science and analytics.
“Privacy engineers need to begin prioritizing data ethics,” said Erin Relford, Privacy Engineer at Google. “I recently participated in LA Tech4Good's Data Ethics intensive and this experience underscored the necessity of centering equity and ethics in my privacy work.”
LA Tech4Good focuses its workshops on empowering professionals to practice responsible data through the lenses of inclusivity and equity and workshops have welcomed participants from varied communities, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, immigrants, and those with disabilities. This cohort was no exception, as it was comprised of 83% female, 59% people of color, and 67% multilingual individuals.
“In a world where data and algorithms are increasingly being used to help supplement human decision-making, an equity lens is a key to actively offsetting harm and injustices caused or perpetuated through data,” says LA Tech4Good Executive Director, Karen Borchgrevink.
“We've all heard how algorithms disadvantage marginalized individuals and groups. But even more importantly, by employing data through a lens of justice and towards the goal of equity, data becomes an invaluable, even required, means to improve the lives of our communities. Our workshops give you a basic toolkit you can use immediately!”
The recent Data Equity Skills Workshop Series program was made possible thanks to the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Internet Society through a Beyond the Net Small Grant from the Internet Society Foundation.
LA Tech4Good will soon offer an introductory Data Equity 101 webinar. Register your interest by joining the mailing list here.
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LA Tech4Good
The mission of LA Tech4Good is to foster social change by teaching equitable and ethical data practices. Their vision is to see technology embraced and employed in support of social change, embraced and employed in support of social change, helping address the myriad of critical injustices in the world and creating new solutions. All social change organizations can and should rely solidly on technology to increase their impact and we support this and we aim to strengthen this broad tech and data “for good” ecosystem.
More: https://www.latech4good.org
Contact information
LA Tech4Good
Karen Borchgrevink | karen@latech4good.org