ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY
RECALIBRATING HOW THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COLLECTS AND DISSEMINATES NATIONAL DATA
As a Product Fellow, I led the proposal for customized data visualization tools to better compare national data on census.gov. Part of a larger equity-based system, this was one of the first examples of human-centered design in President Biden’s Executive Order for Advancing Racial Equity. Here, I owned the product vision, design, and delivery on a small team of researchers and stakeholder managers.
As a Product Fellow, I led the proposal for customized data visualization tools to better compare national data on census.gov. Part of a larger equity-based system, this was one of the first examples of human-centered design in President Biden’s Executive Order for Advancing Racial Equity. Here, I owned the product vision, design, and delivery on a small team of researchers and stakeholder managers.
BACKGROUND 1... 2... 3... THE UNDERCOUNT
Census data is foundational in determining how the federal government allocates resources and funding across the nation; its accuracy is paramount, yet often undercount minorities while overcounting the majority.
One of the ways the U.S. Census Bureau measures its performance is through the success of partner nonprofit organizations around the nation, leading to the question:
How can we better equip organizations to serve their communities through the collection and dissemination of equitable data?
1... 2... 3... THE UNDERCOUNT
Census data is foundational in determining how the federal government allocates resources and funding across the nation; its accuracy is paramount, yet often undercount minorities while overcounting the majority.
One of the ways the U.S. Census Bureau measures its performance is through the success of partner nonprofit organizations around the nation, leading to the question:
How can we better equip organizations to serve their communities through the collection and dissemination of equitable data?
DELIVERABLEDATA VISUALIZATION
Additional data visualization tools on the Census database platform seeks to improve the way users can interact with and analyze specific subsets of data. These tools emphasize customizability, with the ability to see data trends overtime, compare datasets against each other, and tailor data to optimize the user’s research. In doing so, you’re able to better measure your organizational impact and evaluate its performance.
DATA VISUALIZATION
Additional data visualization tools on the Census database platform seeks to improve the way users can interact with and analyze specific subsets of data. These tools emphasize customizability, with the ability to see data trends overtime, compare datasets against each other, and tailor data to optimize the user’s research. In doing so, you’re able to better measure your organizational impact and evaluate its performance.
DELIVERABLE
We introduced a chat feature that connects you to an AI chatbot or one of the Census Bureau’s own data dissemination specialist in order to help you locate data. We found that organizations — especially smaller ones — don’t have the time or resources to sift through the multitude of data that the Census offers. However, this data could mean the difference in grant approvals, organizational performance evaluations, and the ability to make greater change.
The chat feature brings forward the 844-ASK-DATA call line, an existing resource the the Census Bureau offers but is not easily accessible.
DATA ACCESS
We introduced a chat feature that connects you to an AI chatbot or one of the Census Bureau’s own data dissemination specialist in order to help you locate data. We found that organizations — especially smaller ones — don’t have the time or resources to sift through the multitude of data that the Census offers. However, this data could mean the difference in grant approvals, organizational performance evaluations, and the ability to make greater change.
The chat feature brings forward the 844-ASK-DATA call line, an existing resource the the Census Bureau offers but is not easily accessible.
DELIVERABLE
The U.S. Census Bureau now seeks to reach underrepresented communities by meeting people where they’re at. In this system, the Census Bureau sets up data collection stations in common spaces like food banks, senior centers, soup kitchens, and community colleges — all places that hold a high concentration of undercounted communities.
The Census Bureau adopts a trauma-informed approach to tailor surveys to specific communities, while prioritizing transparency and conveying impact. For example, stations catered to people experiencing homelessness will no longer ask for home addresses, household incomes, or gender binaries.
DATA COLLECTION
The U.S. Census Bureau now seeks to reach underrepresented communities by meeting people where they’re at. In this system, the Census Bureau sets up data collection stations in common spaces like food banks, senior centers, soup kitchens, and community colleges — all places that hold a high concentration of undercounted communities.
The Census Bureau adopts a trauma-informed approach to tailor surveys to specific communities, while prioritizing transparency and conveying impact. For example, stations catered to people experiencing homelessness will no longer ask for home addresses, household incomes, or gender binaries.
CONCLUSION
This product launch pioneered an involved process of research and codesign with key stakeholders, demonstrating a framework for a federal government agency to gather honest feedback, actively listen, and catalyze their services to best reflect the needs of the people.
THE MVP (MOST VALUABLE PROTOTYPE)
This product launch pioneered an involved process of research and codesign with key stakeholders, demonstrating a framework for a federal government agency to gather honest feedback, actively listen, and catalyze their services to best reflect the needs of the people.
BY THE NUMBERS
IMPACT IN DATA
-
20+ community partners across the country reached in the product development process
-
Projected 15-35% increase in satisfaction of census.gov users upon implementation
-
$2+ million/year reallocation of data disemination specialists to be better accessed by the American people