AIR Among Nine Research Organizations in the Evidence and Equity Collaborative
Market leaders in the field of public policy research unite to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion
Washington, D.C. - In the fall of 2020, the chief executive officers of nine leading policy research organizations met to discuss the critical importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the field of public policy research and in their individual workplaces. The result is the Evidence and Equity Collaborative.
The first collaboration of its kind within the policy research field, the Evidence and Equity Collaborative brings together market leaders Abt Associates, the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Mathematica, MDRC, NORC at the University of Chicago, the RAND Corporation, RTI International, the Urban Institute, and Westat for an initiative outside their usual roles as business competitors. As members of the Evidence and Equity Collaborative, these nine organizations representing more than 20,000 employees, are joining forces to support diversity in their workplaces, strengthen inclusive practices in policy research, and build a foundation for equitable analysis ready to inform policymaking across the nation.
The Evidence and Equity Collaborative’s agenda will include a range of opportunities for members to learn from each other and from broader communities. Plans include facilitating DEI dialogue within member organizations and among those who fund, develop and implement policies and programs; meeting with communities affected by those policies and programs; contributing to the development of research best practices informed by DEI principles; and creating opportunities for aspiring researchers from underrepresented groups.
“AIR is proud to participate in the Evidence and Equity Collaborative and work with our peers to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and in how we serve our clients, our partners, and our communities,” said David Myers, AIR president and CEO. “This collaborative will allow us to learn from one another, hold each other accountable, and ensure that our field is inclusive and culturally competent as we seek to create a better and more equitable world.”
As a unique effort with a deeply held purpose, the Evidence and Equity Collaborative is set to accelerate progress within the field of program and policy research, while putting the power of its deep bench of expertise into advancing transformational change.
Media Contacts:
Makini Nyanteh, American Institutes for Research
202-403-5902
mnyanteh@air.org
Jennifer de Vallance, Mathematica
202-484-4692
jdevallance@mathematica.org