Blog
Learning never stops.
The UPD team is constantly looking for ways to learn more about our industry and, by extension, improve the results we achieve for our clients. Our blog is where we share our latest thinking.
Why we made a data governance course
Data collected by government organizations are a public asset, and they need to be managed in ways that protect the public’s interest. As government organizations move toward more equitable decision making and actions, the data…
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HBCUs and the NFL Draft: The Data and the Story
The history of football in the United States is as much a story of what’s taken place on the field as it is of American history itself. A historical look at the role of Black…
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The Power of Information Sharing and Communication
It’s undeniable that since the murder of George Floyd, America has seen an uptick in governmental introspection aimed at improving inequitable outcomes for Black/Indigenous/People of Color (BIPOC) and other historically disadvantaged stakeholders. For the state…
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C Change
The past few years have ushered in a new wave of organizational introspection related to antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI). It’s long overdue, and I’m glad to see it, but the prospect of achieving...
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We’ve declared Racism as a Public Health Crisis, Now What?
Since 2019, 50 municipalities and three states have declared racism as a public health crisis. The declarations are meaningful, but how do they lead to real organizational change? Despite the already huge and growing…
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Walking the Walk & Talking the Talk of Equity Benchmarking
Analyzing equity benchmarks across a wide range of topics (i.e., education, health care, housing and economics) is much more feasible and important than ever before. The wealth of open data has placed public sector organizations…
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Leading with Impact: How companies are implementing ADEI initiatives to open doors to success.
My grandfather was a civil rights leader in San Antonio, TX. He was instrumental in desegregating lunch counters and movie theaters in 1965. He was motivated by a simple but noble goal for Black girls…
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Quantitative Data Reflections: Innovating for Equity
Over the course of the last decade, public sector organizations’ collection, analysis and communication of data through an equity lens has significantly expanded. We’ve had the opportunity to leverage some of these best practices…
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Queen Me: Using Federal Funding To Transform into a Learning Organization
How Do You Understand the Long Game of Federal Funding? Currently, almost two trillion dollars in federal funding is available through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), with a large portion of the pot being made…
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Outside the (check)box
In the year since George Floyd’s murder, there has been a heightened sense of urgency among many organizations to better understand the extent to which their people, processes, and systems are perpetuating supremecist culture and…
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