First Place's Breakfast on the Beach with Luvo Inc. and Russell Wilson was a big hit raising nearly $80,000 to continue to help First Place students learn and their families thrive! Wilson spends time with First Place students (left)....
Alicia Garza created #BlackLivesMatter in July 2012 with Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, two of her sisters, as a call to action for Black people after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was post-humously placed on trial for his own murder and the killer, George Zimmerman, was not held accountable for the crime he committed. It was a response to the anti-Black racism that permeates our society and also, unfortunately, our movements. Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression. Read more. Also check out these steps White people can take to be an ally to the #BlackLivesMatter movement and shape our communities to be antiracist and multicultural. ...
Data2insight grieves for the loss of life in the past week and is wrestling with the issues of creating antiracist and multicultural companies and communities. We appreciate the words of President Obama’s words of wisdom and healing from July 12, 2013 in Dallas, Texas. And, we recommit to partner with people to use data for social good. "I know that Americans are struggling right now with what we’ve witnessed over the past week. First, the shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, the protests. Then the targeting of police by the shooter here, an act not just of demented violence, but of racial hatred. All of it has left us wounded and angry and hurt. This is — the deepest faultlines of our democracy have suddenly been exposed, perhaps even widened. And although we know that such divisions are not new, though they’ve surely been worse in even the recent past, that offers us little comfort. Faced with this violence, we wonder if the divides of race in America can ever be bridged. We wonder if an African American community that feels unfairly targeted by police and police departments that feel unfairly maligned for doing their jobs, can ever understand each other’s experience. We turn on the TV or surf the internet, and we can watch positions harden and lines drawn and people retreat to their respective corners, and politicians calculate how to grab attention or avoid the fallout. We see all this, and it’s hard not to think sometimes that the center won’t hold and that things might get worse. I understand. I understand how Americans are feeling. But Dallas, I’m here to say we must reject such despair. I’m here to insist that we are not as divided as we seem. And I know that because I know America. I know how far we’ve come against impossible odds. I know because of what I’ve experienced in my own life; what I’ve seen of this country and its people, their goodness and decency, as president of the United States. And I know it because of what we’ve seen here in Dallas, how all of you out of great suffering have shown us the meaning of perseverance and character and hope." ...
Our founder, Veronica Smith, enjoyed facilitating Theory of Change and Theory of Action mapping with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America affiliate and headquarters leaders in Orlando, Florida. The BBBSA 2016 National Conference was themed Moving Forward, Together. #BBBSTogether...
We are sad to see our Data Analyst, Neeraj Joshi, transition from his role at data2insight this week. Neeraj has been with the company for the past year assisting with data analytics and social media platforms. We are excited for him as he graduates from the University of Washington next week and joins Intuitive Surgical's Data Science team in July. Kam Yee has joined the team as our new Research and Evaluation Assistant. Her professional and academic experiences focuses on equitable education. Her thesis work at the University of North Dakota’s Department of Space Studies examined organizational practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education programs and the impact they have on girls of color. Kam is excited to bring over 15 years of STEM informal education program experience in data2insight's evaluation work....
Ms. Smith and Ms. Hamrick honored and memorialized their parents by creating the Smith-Hamrick Scholarship for women in science. Ms. Do was the first recipient of this honor. She moved from Vietnam to Portland, Oregon with her parents and younger sister in 2013. After earning her Associates of Art degree from Portland Community College, Quynh transferred to the University of Washington (UW). She will be a senior at UW in Fall 2016. She is working in the Dr. Christine Luscombe’s Lab researching carbon-hydrogen activation of monomers used in polymerization for solar cells. As a result, producing solar panels can be more efficient, cost-reducing, and more environmental friendly. Quynh is traveling to Nagoya University in Japan this summer in an International Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Being the first generation in a low-income family to attend college, Quynh is trailblazing for her younger sister, who is a high school student. Her academic goal, after earning her double Bachelor degrees in biochemistry and chemistry, is to attend graduate school, potentially studying medicinal chemistry. Quynh’s career goal is to become a professor and inspire students, especially women, to follow their dream and pursue careers in science. About the Smith-Hamrick AWIS Scholarship Veronica S. Smith and Natalie I. Hamrick are delighted to offer the Smith-Hamrick Scholarship award in honor and memory of their parents. Both Frieda and Jim Smith and Carolyn and Fred Hamrick encouraged their daughters to explore any and all opportunities and careers that interested them. Carolyn and Frieda especially exposed their daughters to a variety of career pathways. Our parents were life long learners and encouraged us to be the same. Natalie is now an accomplished occupational therapist of over 20 years and Veronica founded and leads a data science firm called data2insight. Veronica and Natalie both earned masters degrees—Natalie in occupational therapy and Veronica in electrical engineering. They are pleased to be able to offer financial support to other women pursuing their career interests and leave us with this message. May you not only achieve your academic and professional goals, but also enjoy the journey. Veronica S. Smith, Quynh Do, and Natalie I. Hamrick at the 2016 Association for Women in Science (AWIS) dinner on June 1, 2016. ...
Data2insight founder, Veronica S. Smith, was just appointed Washington State Chair for Million Women Mentors(MWM), an organization with over 1 million mentors dedicated to support women pursuing careers in STEM. Data2insight supports MWM in their effort to foster interest and confidence among young women in STEM and hopes to make a difference for those in the surrounding area....
This May, in honor of AAPI Heritage month, the U.S. Department of Education has launched a new $1 million Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Data Disaggregation Initiative. The model minority myth that all members of the AAPI have access to high level of education is a damaging stereotype. On the surface, such “positive stereotypes” may sounds like a compliments, but in reality such generalization masks education equity problems facing many AAPIs. As the fastest growing minority group, the AAPI population trace their heritage to more than 320 countries and racial groups, and speak more than 100 languages. Within this diverse group, various barriers to equitable education access are difficult to identify through aggregated data. This initiative will develop disaggregated data that will help target resources and services to the most needed areas. The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Data Disaggregation Initiative will use data to improve education access and tell the stories of AAPI journey....
We are excited that nearly 20 professionals gathered in St. Louis, Missouri on May 4, to hear about the work of data2insight LLC. Founder and chief data scientist, Veronica Smith, described our six service areas (strategic evaluation, data dashboarding, shared measurement, data coaching, facilitation & training, and program design), gave examples of work done in each of those areas, and shared the values of the business. Thanks for a warm welcome from organizations like PNC Bank, St. Louis County Children's Service Fund, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, Doorways Housing, Atomic Revenue, Philips Group, Diversity Awareness Partnership, EMD Consulting and more. ...
Mercer Island High School students had the opportunity to hear from a variety of professional speakers for their Career Day this past Friday, April 29th. Data2insight founder, Veronica Smith, gave a talk about the field of Data Science and the great potential it has in the coming years. We're hoping to see some great data scientists in the coming years!...