Imagine a common ground where curious people agree to celebrate progress, offer support, and identify opportunities to improve. This can be a place of mutual interest or agreement, where we stand on the same facts or see the same opinions. Here, we must ask questions, and not having all the answers is a rule.
A common ground where people seek justice, love mercy and humble themselves to walk with God. Micah 6:8
Let’s See
In a room full of people, how would you introduce yourself to someone who is initially blind to who you are? You may think to introduce yourself in a way that they could see you, even without seeing you. For example, you might share your height, race, hair and eyes, along with your name and what you do. This detail, or disaggregated data, helps to better identify you. Some people in a room, a city, or a state full of people are overlooked or unseen without disaggregated data.
Without disaggregated data, you don’t see that there are three Andrews in the room and each one has a unique race, age, and educational experience. And if we’re not seeing who they are, then we are giving them less respect than we give to a room full of commodities or a room full of inventory.
See More
Without disaggregated data “people” can be blind or overlook things in the analysis as they build policy, systems, strategy, or opportunities.
Here, is an example of information sharing that can raise awareness and accountability once the common ground is established. Let’s look at one of the best sources for rankings, U.S. News. To measure how well states are performing for their citizens, U.S. News creates more than 70 metrics from thousands of data points.
Some measures receive more weight based on a survey of what matters most to people. Categories like health care and education receive the most weight; followed by state economies, infrastructure, and opportunities offered to citizens.
Take a moment to review the link above and see the good in the rankings for your state. Then ask yourself, what can we improve? Does the ranking apply to everyone sitting inside and outside of the room you’re currently in?
Iowa is ranked #12 for Best Overall State and #1 in Opportunity. These are both good rankings to celebrate. If you’re curious, then you might seek to understand how they develop the opportunity ranking.
They create the opportunity ranking from three different metrics, each one has an equal weight . When you look at the disaggregated data for Iowa, you see scores of affordability – 4, economic opportunity – 12, and equality – 27.
I found the equality ranking worthy of exploring further. What looks good is the ‘Labor Force Participation Gap by Gender’ – 5; however, the ‘Employment Gap by Race’ – 40 and ‘Income Gap by Gender’ – 35 show opportunities to improve.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/equality
The disparity in these rankings could paint a picture of a state that is affordable, and has great employment opportunities, but has equity and access gaps. Even in an affordable state, it is still important to walk forward on common ground and point out the gaps we should not overlook.
Common Ground Requires Data Disaggregation
As I continue to learn more about equity I realize where I can improve. I’m more aware of the need to be specific about disaggregate levels of data.
To plan for success, I believe it is important to understand or visualize what success looks likes. High level data does not help us identify where we need to improve.
Success may look like having an organization that is as diverse as the city its located in. When sharing the demographics of the city where a company sits, I use datausa.io.
What are the obstacles, where are the impediments?
Below are a few questions that come to mind as I learn more about equity:
- How does an analytics team ensure it is reflective of the people whose data they analyze?
- Do the employers, 56%, who indicate that applicants lack needed qualifications have disaggregated data available on their applications and interviews? (1)
- Do the employers, 48%, who indicate that there has been a general lack of applicants understand why? (1)
Keep Learning
Currently, I’m reading From Equity Talk to Equity Walk by Dr. Tia Brown McNair, Estella Bensimon, and Lindsey Malcom-Piqueux. It is a book about expanding practitioner knowledge on racial justice in higher education; however, it has information, questions, and frameworks that can be used in processes such as recruiting, pre-employment, hiring, employee development and retention. Dr. Tia Brown McNair believes that equity in learning can lead to an individual’s increased ability to secure jobs.
If we’re not looking at the opportunities to improve, then will equity gaps continue to widen? Possibly.
Be conscious and be honest with where you are as an individual. I have quite a bit to learn, but I’m also in a good position to instill what I learn into the foundation of Leap Here. I agree that equity must be assessed in education and I agree that equity must also be assessed in the pre-employment process.
Here are some actions that I, Sam Reed, a believer, husband, father, son, brother, family member, home owner, educated citizen, aspiring entrepreneur, persistent, curious, volunteer, analyst, and African American Man in the State of Iowa, will continue to do:
- Realize that I don’t have all the answers, but I can remain consistent in trying to clarify questions. Disaggregated data will help here.
- Understand that equity requires being specific and requires collaboration. Who, specifically, is being overlooked for employment opportunities and why? (Race, age, education, experience, income, etc.) Does the responsibility belong to someone else or is there something everyone can do to collaborate?
- Have a growth mindset and improve the speed at which I apply what I learn. Long-term goals need long-term vision. I’ve worked on a vision for the next 20 years, is it time to start sharing it?
Call to Action
It can be challenging to determine when to act and what actions to take. The good news is that action starts with how you think:
- Continue to think about how your personal journey and experiences are impacted by your race, gender, income, age, and other demographics.
- Think about the journey and experiences of people who are not you, because you are uniquely you. What is different, and where might there be common ground? Find out how to collaborate and add to the foundation of fair solutions.
- Equity work requires collaboration. It is not done in isolation or with a select few.(3)
We often think of action as something that we physically do. You can act right now through a willingness to be open to learn and change the way you think. Educate yourself on equity and determine your next steps.
The year 2020 extended an invitation to a class of self-improvement and protection of others. There is still much to learn and class stays in session, are you ‘Here’?
Sources:
- Future Ready Iowa: Closing Iowa’s Skills Gap. [ebook] Available at: <https://www.futurereadyiowa.gov/sites/fri/files/basic_page_files/2021SYIPPwebinarslides_0.pdf> [Accessed April 2021]
- Njoku, Nadrea, and Deshawn Preston. “Advancing Equity Through Guided Pathways Series Discussion Guide #1.”<http://ncii-improve.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CAGP-Equity-Guide-1-Final-June-2020-v4.pdf, United Negro College Fund> [Accessed April 2021]
- McNair, Tia Brown, et al. From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education. Jossey-Bass, a Wiley Brand, 2020.
