GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Leading information ethicist and prison justice marketing consultant Renée Cummings is coming to Grand Rapids subsequent week for a public sequence to debate how information could be biased.

She’ll speak about how utilizing biased information, particularly because it pertains to know-how, can affect systemic racism.

“Disrupting Data Injustice” is a weeklong exploration about how the usage of information can result in racial disparities in prison justice and incarceration, training, employment, well being care and different neighborhood programs.

The sequence, open to the general public, kicks off Monday, Nov. 14, and runs via Thursday, Nov. 17 with occasions at totally different areas.

The initiative is being led by The Delta Project, Greater Grand Rapids NAACP, West Michigan chapter of Public Relations Society of America, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Grand Valley State University, and a consortium of know-how companies, in line with a information launch from The Delta Project.

Cummings, a former journalist and public relations practitioner, is a professor of apply in information science and the primary information ethicist in residence on the University of Virginia.

She research the impression of algorithms and synthetic intelligence on prison justice, particularly in communities of coloration and incarcerated populations, in line with the discharge.

“Organizations need to develop a culture that is ethical, open and committed to issues such as accountability, transparency and explainability,” mentioned Cummings.

“We need to understand bias and discrimination, and how our data needs to be reimagined and redefined. Wherever you are, you represent several communities with different facets—within your industry or profession, the groups you actively support, your neighborhood, schools and at home.”

“We need informed people on the front line where the action is happening, where the technologies are being designed, developed and deployed, and where the debates are happening on how to do this ethically.”

Here’s a listing of Disrupting Data Injustice occasions which can be open to the general public:

• Monday, Nov. 14: Grand Valley State University Disrupting Data Injustice: An Evening with Renée Cummings, 5-6:30 pm. More info here.
• Tuesday, Nov. 15: Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Rise Together: Diversity & Talent Summit – Afternoon Keynote
• Thursday, Nov. 17: West Michigan PRSA, How to Talk About What We Don’t Want to Talk About: Driving Conversations About Racial Injustice. 4-5:30 p.m., on-line and in-person at The Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, 1530 Madison Avenue SE. Register here.

At the West Michigan chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s signature Diversity Equity and Inclusion occasion, the main focus will likely be on how companies and neighborhood organizations can select when and learn how to converse up about injustices. The occasion is very related with West Michigan getting nationwide consideration after the killing of Patrick Lyoya, the discharge mentioned.

Cle Jackson, president of the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP, careworn the significance of teaching communities who’re disproportionately impacted by information bias.

“When we talk about race and justice, we’re talking about the ways that discrimination, policing, prosecution, and incarceration practices impact Black communities,” Jackson mentioned in a press release. “Focusing on the role data plays in this space can help ensure that ethical data use improves public safety and community well-being for all stakeholders.”

Joel Van Kuiken, WMPRSA member and The Delta Project Co-founder, had the imaginative and prescient for the weeklong occasion involving Cummings, in line with the discharge. He mentioned he’s grateful for Cummings to be sharing her data and perspective with the Grand Rapids neighborhood.

“Biased data has the potential to create an inequitable future, and we won’t even realize it’s happening,” Van Kuiken mentioned. “That’s why it’s important to discuss now what we want our future to look like.”

The weeklong exploration is sponsored by: The Wege Foundation, The Heart of West Michigan United Way, The Michigan Municipal League, Grand Valley State University College of Education and Community Innovation, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, The Children’s Advocacy Center, The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Atomic Object, Carnevale and extra, in line with the discharge.

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