Disaggregation Nation 2025 » Speaker Bios
Disaggregation Nation! A Data Equity Summit 2025
Hosted by: Data Disaggregation Action Network | The Leadership Conference Education Fund
Who counts depends on who is counted.
The Disaggregation Nation! Data Equity Summit 2025, hosted by the Data Disaggregation Action Network (D‑DAN), was held on June 18, 2025, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This one‑day convening brought together D‑DAN members, partners, and allies to strengthen the national network of data equity advocates. We explored the evolving federal data landscape, dove into state‑level policy and implementation strategies, and gained tools to build coalitions and engage new allies. The summit was a unique opportunity to reconnect, share lessons, and cultivate a powerful, cross‑sector community dedicated to advancing data disaggregation for equity and justice.
Speaker Presentations
Federal Policy Landscape: Race & Ethnicity Data at a Crossroads
- Meeta Anand | Senior Director of Census & Data Equity — The Leadership Conference
Safeguarding Trust: Protecting the Confidentiality of State Data
- Amy Hawn Nelson | Research Faculty, Director of Training and Technical Assistance — Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP)
- Amy O’Hara | Director — Association of Public Data Users (APDU)
- Denice Ross | Senior Fellow — National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC)
Our Data. Our Rights. Our Power! Messaging Strategy Session
- Cassidy Shwartz | Associate Vice President — CLYDE
- Rachel Hooper | Senior Manager of Strategic Communications — The Leadership Conference
Implementing Data Disaggregation at the State Level: Progress and Lessons Learned
- Disaggregation Nation: State Pathways and Key Considerations
- Leslie Zellers J.D. | Public Health & Public Policy Attorney and Researcher
- Part 1: New York State Implementation: Data Disaggregation in Action
- Emily Leckman-Westin, Ph.D. | Director — Population Health and Evaluation, New York State Office of Mental Health [SLIDES]
- Lloyd Feng | Senior Data Policy Coordinator — Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)
- Part 2: California Implementation: Working Collaboratively With Key Stakeholders
- Andrew C. Lee | Senior California Policy Manager — Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
- Mandy Diêc | California Deputy Director — Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
- Mar Velez | Director of Policy — Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC)
- Janis Ho | Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Equity Specialist — California Department of Public Health*
- Maggie Tufts | Epidemiologist — California Department of Public Health*
- Dey Nava | Latino Equity Specialist — California Department of Public Health*
* participating in personal capacity – affiliation listed for identification purposes only.
Keynote Address and Panel:
- Jamila Porter | Chief of Staff and Principal Investigator of MADE for Health Justice — de Beaumont Foundation [SLIDES]
- Pittsburgh Community Data Justice Collaborative
- Shemariah Waggoner | Managing Director — Black Equity Coalition
- Robert Gradeck | Director — Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center (WPRDC)
- Ruth Howze | Community Engagement Manager — Black Equity Coalition
- Gabriel Gray | Organizer — PA United
- Alex Payton | Director of Operations and Technology — Kingsley Association
- Breakout Session A: Expanding Coalitions and Tapping Into Unconventional Partners for Impact
- Sara Ismael | Policy Manager — National Network for Arab American Communities/ACCESS
- Analyssa María García | Policy and Advocacy Specialist — Culturingua (formerly)
- Breakout Session B: A Day Without Data: Activation Exercise
- Jer Thorp | Data Artist and Author of ‘Living in Data’
Convening Materials
www.WeAreTheData.us
This is the interactive online platform of the Data Disaggregation Action Network (D-DAN), dedicated to advancing equitable data practices by promoting the collection and analysis of detailed race and ethnicity data across the United States. The site offers tools, policy resources, state-by-state progress tracking, and community-driven insights to support advocates, researchers, and policymakers in addressing disparities and building a more inclusive data infrastructure.
Your Community Counts | Organizing Toolkit for Data Equity
Our Community Partner Toolkit is designed to equip you with the resources, messaging, and guidelines necessary to engage in meaningful discussions with policymakers, press, community leaders, and other prominent voices on this issue. By connecting the issues you work on to the need for accurate and inclusive data, you will be instrumental in driving understanding, support, and action towards policies that promote data equity.
Disaggregation Nation: A Landscape Review of State Race & Ethnicity Data Collection
This report examines laws and pending legislation in 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify states that require disaggregation of race or ethnicity data beyond federal standards.
Disaggregation Nation: A Landscape Review of State Race & Ethnicity Data Collection (July 2024 Mid-Year Update)
This report provides 2024 updates to laws and pending legislation with a forward from Dr. Neda Maghbouleh, member of the 2030 Census Advisory Committee (CAC) and associate professor of sociology at University of British Columbia.
Disaggregation Nation: State Pathways and Key Considerations for Improved Race and Ethnicity Data
Coming soon!
Travel/Accommodations
For any questions regarding reimbursement for accommodations, please email [email protected].