Actionable Data to Protect the People
Long Beach container port with smog | photo by Charles Csavossy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Guest post by Ray Cheung, based on his session at Data Con LA 2020
As our underserved communities in Los Angeles continue to suffer from injustice, data can be a force equalizer to empower residents and community leaders to protect their livelihoods and fight for equality. However, having good intentions to help the community with data is not enough. The effort to equip the community with actionable data requires humility, patience, and empathy.
“Our organization – SmartAirLA – partners with community health organizations to use data to prevent asthma attacks among underserved patients who breathe among the dirtiest air in the country“
We provide text messages to asthma patients when asthma attack risks are high to remind them to take their medication and avoid pollution. We are also pinpointing pollution hotspots so that community advocates can make sure the government cracks down on the most harmful polluters.
During our effort to build the Asthma Alert Pollution Heat Map, we have humbly learned, and continue to learn, invaluable insights on the community use of data to protect the people. We are sharing our learnings to join the conversation about the power of data to drive positive change.
Traffic congestion on a Los Angeles freeway. Photograph by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Four Learnings on Community Use of Data
1. Partner with trusted local organizations that serve the community at their circumstance
This is first and foremost because local partners with intricate community knowledge are crucial in identifying the problem and developing the data solution. As outsiders, what we believe is the problem may not be the community’s priority, and a solution developed without community input and context could unleash harmful consequences. Thus, it is imperative to gain an on-the-ground understanding of the situation from the local partners so that the data solution serves their priorities.
2. Build trust with the community
Without trust, the data, no matter how noble the intentions are, will not be used. We must be mindful that underserved communities continue to be exploited by outsiders who make false promises of change. Building trust requires us to demonstrate our commitment by frequently meeting with community members to ask questions and address their concerns. The worse thing is to parachute in and start proselytizing the community with data.
3. “Keep It Simple” when explaining the data
The use of complex models and technical terms not only creates confusion but sows mistrust. Exploiters purposely use complexity to confuse the community to hide their harmful actions. Make the data easily understandable and actionable by “keeping it simple” and following the rule of explaining issues so that your grandmother can understand. The more straightforward the data analytics are, the more convincing and defendable. When visualizing the data, “less is more.” By capturing the most salient points, the data visualizations crystalize outcomes that empower and inspire the viewers to take action.
4. Adopt safeguards to protect the community
As we all know, data can be dangerously exploited when it falls into the wrong hands. To protect data privacy, we follow a code of conduct that includes using only aggregated data that cannot identify specific individuals and populations and minimizing data collection so that our effort does not intrude on the community.
Acting with humility, care, and respect for the people we seek to serve is fundamental. By doing so, data can truly serve as a powerful force of good that is for, with, and by the people.
“Long Beach, which sits between the two largest seaports in the country, has good air quality just 10% of the year. The stretch of Interstate 710 that runs through Long Beach has been dubbed ‘Asthma Alley.’” –‘Asthma Alley’: Long Beach Ranks Worst in U.S. for Air Quality, by Grayson Schmidt, Cronkite News
About the author
Ray Cheung
Ray Cheung is Executive Director of SmartAirLA where he leads the partnerships to implement SmartAirLA’s strategic objectives. Ray has over two decades of expertise in advancing sustainability and clean technology deployment. He can be reached at ray.cheung@smartp3.city.
About SmartAirLA
SmartAirLA is a public-private-partnership organization whose mission is to empower communities in Los Angeles suffering from pollution with the data to improve their health and environment. Their efforts are recognized as the "Most Innovative Project to Improve the Safety-Net" by the Los Angeles Department of Health Services and the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County.