Yeshimabeit Milner facts for kids

Yeshimabeit "Yeshi" Milner is an American expert in technology and a community leader. She helps people understand and use information to make positive changes. Yeshi is the executive director and co-founder of an organization called Data for Black Lives. This group works to use data to help Black communities.

Who is Yeshimabeit Milner?

Yeshimabeit Milner is a talented technologist and activist. She uses her skills to help communities solve problems. Her work focuses on how information, or "data," can be used fairly and effectively. She believes that everyone should have access to information that can improve their lives.

Growing Up and Learning

Yeshimabeit Milner grew up in Miami, Florida. From her teenage years, she became very interested in helping others and learning about data. While still in high school, she worked with an organization called the Power U Center for Social Change. This experience showed her how important it is to stand up for what is right.

After high school, Yeshi attended Brown University. She graduated in 2012 with a degree in Africana Studies. This field of study explores the history, culture, and experiences of people of African descent.

Using Data for Good

In 2013, after finishing college, Yeshi returned to Miami. She continued her work with the Power U Center for Social Change. There, she began to look closely at health differences in her community. She wanted to understand why some babies faced more health challenges than others.

Yeshi and her team collected information from about 300 mothers. By studying this data, they learned important things about community health. Their findings helped change local rules and policies to better support families and babies. This showed Yeshi the power of using data to create real change.

Founding Data for Black Lives

Yeshi Milner met Lucas Mason-Brown, a mathematician, while they were both at Brown University. Together, they decided to create something new. In November 2017, they co-founded Data for Black Lives (D4BL).

In 2018, Yeshi and Lucas started the annual Data for Black Lives conference. This event brings together people who want to use data responsibly. Their group uses a powerful idea: "Abolish Big Data!" This doesn't mean getting rid of all data. Instead, it means changing how large amounts of data, often called "Big Data," are collected and used. They want to make sure data helps, rather than harms, communities. Their goal is to "put data into the hands of those who need it most."

Making a Difference with Data

Data for Black Lives has worked on many important projects. In 2020, the group gathered information about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected Black communities across different states. This data helped people understand the unique challenges faced by these groups.

The organization also worked on creating a national database. This database tracks the different technologies used by police departments. This helps bring more transparency to how these tools are used. In 2021, Yeshi Milner also helped write a research paper for Demos. This paper discussed "algorithmic racism" from large technology companies. Algorithmic racism happens when computer programs, or algorithms, accidentally or purposefully treat certain groups unfairly. Yeshi's work helps shine a light on these issues.

Awards and Recognition

Yeshimabeit Milner has received many honors for her important work. She was a board member for the Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee. In 2018, she received a special award called the Roddenberry Foundation Fellowship. This award celebrates and supports amazing people who are working to make the world a better place.

In 2020, Data for Black Lives and its founders, Yeshi and Lucas, were recognized with several awards. They were named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list. This list highlights young leaders who are making a big impact. They also received a New York Times 2020 Good Tech Award. These awards show how much their efforts are valued.

See Also

• African-American women in computer science