1. DataCenter
Unlocking the power of knowledge
for social change
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2. Mission Statement Revised Dec 2009
DataCenter unlocks the power of knowledge
for social change.
We support grassroots organizing for justice
and sustainability through strategic
research, training and collaborations.
We use research to help move the
knowledge and solutions of communities
of color, indigenous communities and the
poor from the margins to the center of
decision-making.
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3. “Research”: How you create Political
Legitimacy behind your voice as Experts
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4. We believe ‘Research Justice’ is
Achieved when Communities have….
1. access to information/knowledge,
2. control over information/knowledge,
3. capacity for producing own knowledge,
4. capacity for use of knowledge, and
5. Influence to shape validity/legitimacy of
knowledge
…on equal footing with all institutions in
society.
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5. The ‘Ecosystem of knowledge’
Mainstream knowledge:
“Census”
“universities” “city
hall” “courts”
Just &
Sustainable
Solutions
Cultural and
Experiential knowledge
Community knowledge
“History of my family’s “Cooking greens!”
immigration to country,” “getting out there & actually
how to survive and speaking for ourselves!”
navigate the court system (because “we are the
once caught up, etc. experts” of issues we face.)
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6. Qualitative Data Analysis to Identify Priority Issues for Young Khmer
Women, Khmer Girls in Action, Long Beach, CA
“When we apply the
principles of
grassroots organizing
to research, this is
what it looks like.”
l Movement-building through
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7. DataCenter coordinates Research by and for movement
formations and popular efforts
“Academia Occupied by Occupy”
April 30, 2012
“Research by and of Social Movements” by Sasha Costanza-Chock, MIT (DataCenter Advisor) and Christine
Schweidler of DataCenter, at Republica Conference, Berlin, May 2012
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8. Time is now!
Wider stakeholder engagement to build
a stronger movement
 “Bridging” data, knowledge and
consciousness across sectors,
generations and cultures
 Support accurate, bottom-up,
disaggregated community data in
policy analysis, policy-making and
grant-making.
 Strategic Presentations for Research
Justice field-building
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9. DataCenter is Jazzed… In 2011…
¡ We trained 322
community members in
their own research.
¡ Our trainings reached
an organizing base of
20,000.
¡ We surpassed
grassroots donor target
by 9%!
And…We are turning 35 in
2013!
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10. The Critical Path: 2012-2014
¡ Build a national platform for Research Justice agenda
via the Research Justice Network (rooted in Social
Justice Movement, and has multi-sector
representation)
¡ Strengthen DataCenter as a Movement Institution:
Grow our Board, Advisory & Committees, and
Infrastructure & Systems;
¡ Programmatic Sustainability:
1. Strengthen Innovation/R&D/Technology as
Community Research accelerators;
2. Resource, Grow & Sustain Program Services
(Strategic Initiatives with Academy, Health &
Planning sectors)
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11. DataCenter Opportunities of
Service and Partnerships!
 Board of Directors
 Advisory Board (“Research Justice Partners”)
 “Health advocates for Research Justice”
 Committees as Volunteer Members
 Finance Committee
 Development Committee
 Major Gifts/Donor Program Advisory Committee
 Program Committee
 Talent Committee (HR)
 Etc….. TBD…with you!
 DataCenter History Project
 Ad hoc projects: filming/media production; 35th anniv.
planning (2013); other partnership opportunities

12. Our Value Criteria for Our Growing
Team
• “I love Research!” (…it’s about producing Knowledge –
and knowledge is power!)
• I believe grassroots communities have a right to
conduct their own inquiries and generate their own
knowledge – and expertise.
• I believe grassroots research capacity is key for
building grassroots political power for change.
• I am interested in or work in a diverse, collaborative
team environment.
• I have capacity to negotiate my commitments and
then fulfill them or communicate changes in my
capacity proactively.
• I am interested in being an ambassador for DataCenter
and its Research Justice agenda to the public.
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