Letter From Stephen: The Path Forward

Our job at mySidewalk is to empower changemakers. We believe that data, paired with passion, can change the world - and the need for that change is painfully clear. We are also humble about our place in the fight for racial equity. We aren't the ones on the front line striving every day to make our neighborhoods better. Our role is to get information into the hands of communities so they can advocate for what's right. 

I am always in awe of our partners in cities like Kansas City, Louisville, Dayton, and Long Beach. The teams in cities like these have been fighting the good fight for decades, drawing attention to the deadly consequences of a legacy of race-based oppression. Our partners inspire us to be more courageous, and they have taught us a great deal about privilege, opportunity, and struggle.

For our changemaking customers, we pledge to do more. We want to make it easier to get the information you need and leverage that knowledge into social change. We are taking a fresh look at our data library and prioritizing more indicators that include information by race, ethnicity, and citizenship status. We can't fix what we can't measure, and although it's a small thing, it's our thing. We are also committed to making sure the language and imagery in our templates and dashboards are rooted in inclusion. We will be leaning on thought leaders within our company and among our partner organizations to make that happen. Our company will continue to put equity at the center of our work, to democratize data, and help our partners in whatever way we can. 

While I am angry and sad, I am also hopeful that despite pandemics and protests, we will emerge stronger. I’ve worked with enough communities going through a disaster to know that a clear purpose makes transformative progress possible.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you want to talk, or if you have ideas for ways we can improve as a company. My virtual door is always open.

In solidarity,

Stephen Hardy
shardy@mysidewalk.com