Dear Friend,

Each newsletter, we bring you stories of the communities that we partner with and the way they harness their knowledge to achieve justice. The two stories we bring you this month are stories you rarely get to hear, but they are a huge part of most organizations and companies.

These are stories of two of our interns, Alejandro and Mara. They were both drawn to share their time and expertise with DataCenter because of their own background as well as a passion for Research Justice. We are grateful for your support as we train interns to unlock the power of knowledge for social change. And we are grateful to all of our interns for sharing their stories and passion with us!

Interested in being a DataCenter intern? Click here!

Watch Your Mailbox!

DataCenter Print Newsletter Coming this month!

Save the Date!

DataCenter Environmental Justice Camp: Coming
Early 2012

DataCenter History Project: Coming soon!

Involved in the Occupy efforts? Interested in using research to tell the Occupy story? OccupyResearch is a shared wiki space to share research ideas. Check it out and stay tuned to DataCenter for more info!

Alejandro: Researcher from Mexico Empowers Immigrant Communities

Whether you're investigating how youth activists in New York City employ the media to report on social injustices or you're tackling the complicated issues of gentrification in Los Angeles Koreatown, a normal workday at the DataCenter is nothing but original, compelling, and most importantly thought-provoking.
 
I was first drawn to the organization however for its dedication and aspirations to help minority, marginalized, and underrepresented peoples. As a first generation immigrant from rural Mexico myself, I personally understand how the aforementioned groups lack a certain voice when it come to exercising their democratic rights. The imperative is therefore outreach, education, and most significantly empowerment--all key concepts I came to be conscious of during my eight-month internship at the DataCenter.

I remember graduating from the University of California in the summer of 2010 feeling a bit anxious and concerned about my future. As a young social activist you tend to give so much of yourself to your work that putting your life into perspective can sometimes become an afterthought. So when I began working at the DataCenter I had many concerns regarding not just balance but fitting-in and being competent enough. Much to my surprise, I came to meet so many wonderful people who mentored and encouraged my growth as a professional researcher and leader. I am extremely thankful to Saba Waheed and Jay Donahue who took me under their wings and trusted my aptitude and abilities when I myself had many doubts.

As I prepare to leave the organization, I am grateful for all the skills I acquired. Not only did I get to design surveys, conduct personal profiles, and write research method guides, but I also got to expand my understanding of community empowerment while helping to create positive social change. I now take what I have learned to the next level. This October I will be moving to Honduras to work on rural and indigenous developmental projects as a bilingual research associate for the organization Global Brigades. I wouldn't be where I am now without the encouragement of the DataCenter. Thank you all!

When I stumbled upon DataCenter's website last year, I literally did a double take.  Research justice?  Participatory action research?  As a recent college grad beginning to poke around in the Bay Area nonprofit scene, I hardly expected to find an organization that reconciled two of my (seemingly disparate) motivations: a) my desire to sharpen my social science research skills, and b) my awareness that traditional research endeavors can be seriously hampered by power imbalances between researchers and their subjects. 

As I continued to explore DataCenter's theory and praxis, I was thrilled to discover an honest and radical analysis of the mechanics of knowledge production.  The concept of "Research Justice"” united my interest in research with my desire to reduce (rather than contribute to) the misrepresentation of marginalized communities in mainstream decision-making arenas. 

I've learned that legitimate and strategic fact-finding is no longer monopolized by clipboard-toting academics and number-crunching bureaucrats.  By working with community groups to articulate and pursue concrete policy goals, DataCenter democratizes the research process in a way that amplifies (rather than overrides) the voices of community partners. 

Since beginning at DataCenter, I have had the pleasure of working with several amazing campaigns.  Participating in the National Domestic Workers' Survey Project with DataCenter Research Fellow Christina Fletes has been an invaluable experience.  In addition, I am currently collaborating with Justice for Families, a nationwide coalition that documents the impact of youth incarceration on families.  I am excited to be learning how qualitative information (such as focus group testimonials) can be prepared for data analysis, and (better yet) how this process can be democratized to allow for the full participation of the families themselves.  This two-fold approach is truly the DataCenter way, and I am honored to be involved in this engaging and ultimately transformative process.