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Be Part of the Change: Reimagining Systems Through Equity-Driven Data
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Be Part of the Change: Reimagining Systems Through Equity-Driven Data
Right now, inequities in data are reinforcing the very systems that exclude communities from opportunity. Financial algorithms entrench bias, industries resist inclusive leadership, and public spaces often fail to reflect the people they serve. The Inclusivity Institute for Better Data (IIBD) is changing that.
Founded by Romain Williams, IIBD operates on the foundational belief that data is not neutral— it reflects the systems and biases that create it. Through intentional, equity-driven innovation, IIBD reimagines how data is collected, interpreted, and applied to drive systemic change and empower structurally excluded communities.
FROM CHALLENGES TO CHANGE
Across sectors, inequitable systems persist:
Banking: Algorithms act as invisible gatekeepers, disproportionately denying structurally excluded groups access to loans and financial services.
Construction: Structural barriers continue to limit access to leadership roles for Black and Indigenous professionals.
Public Spaces: Urban design often prioritizes convenience for a select few rather than fostering belonging for all.
IIBD approaches these challenges as opportunities to drive meaningful transformation. Combining technical expertise with lived experience, the organization designs systemic solutions that challenge entrenched biases, uplift community voices, and build pathways to equity.
THE WORK IN ACTION
IIBD’s initiatives are designed to address systemic inequities at their roots. Here’s how their work is making an impact:
1. ALGORITHM BIAS IN BANKING
Partnering with stakeholders in the financial sector, IIBD identifies and challenges discriminatory patterns embedded in financial algorithms. By advocating for transparency, accountability, and equity-driven standards, they are reshaping how banks assess creditworthiness, ensuring fair access for all communities.
2. BREAKING BARRIERS: LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS IN CONSTRUCTION
In partnership with The Career Foundation, this initiative dismantles systemic barriers to leadership roles for Black and Indigenous professionals in the construction industry. Through mentorship, policy advocacy, and targeted training programs, IIBD is fostering pathways to leadership while transforming industry practices.
3. Playspaces and Placemaking Equity
Using innovative video ethnography techniques, IIBD captures the lived experiences of structurally excluded communities in public spaces. These insights inform urban planning decisions, ensuring that playspaces are designed to be inclusive, reflective, and welcoming for all.
A FRAMEWORK FOR TRANSFORMATION
At the core of IIBD's approach lies a commitment to equity, intersectionality, and data feminism. These frameworks go beyond surface-level solutions, addressing deeply rooted biases within traditional data practices. By centring structurally excluded voices, IIBD ensures that their interventions don’t just measure impact—they drive it.
Transformative change cannot happen in isolation. IIBD invites individuals, organizations, and allies to join them in reimagining systems with equity at their core. Together, partners can:
Advocate for equity-driven practices within their sectors.
Share expertise to strengthen and scale IIBD’s initiatives.
Collaborate on systemic solutions that disrupt the status quo.
Romain Williams captures the essence of IIBD’s mission, stating: “We believe our work surpasses temporary fixes; it rethinks how systems operate and who they serve. Data isn’t just about what we know—it’s about what we choose to change.”
The work of IIBD is a call to rethink how data shapes our world—not as a passive reflection of inequities, but as an active tool for change. However, meaningful change requires committed partners who share this vision. Whether you're an organization ready to collaborate, a leader with expertise to share, or an advocate for systemic equity, there is a role for you in this mission. With IIBD leading the way and dedicated partners by their side, the blueprint for a more equitable world is already taking shape.
