Bringing Community to Data and Data to Community

How Pittsburgh is Reimagining Data Governance Through Community Partnership

In a time where artificial intelligence, big data, and smart cities are shaping our daily lives, the City of Pittsburgh is making a bold move: centering community at the heart of data governance. At the recent “Bringing Community to Data, Data to Community” panel, leaders from the City of Pittsburgh, Black Equity Coalition, and grassroots organizations discussed a transformative initiative—one that makes data more accessible and equitable.

Why Community Data Justice Matters

As Chris Belasco, Chief Data Officer of the City of Pittsburgh, pointed out, technology is accelerating rapidly. Without intentional community integration, public services risk becoming detached from the needs they are meant to serve. “We want to build systems with people in mind,” Belasco emphasized. “Not just fast tech, but fair tech.”

That principle underpins the city’s partnership with the Black Equity Coalition and the creation of the Community Data Justice Collaborative (CDJC). Together, they are pioneering a model where historically excluded communities, especially Black neighborhoods, are not just data subjects, but co-creators of policy, design, and data practices.

A Unique Model of Governance

Shemariah Waggoner of the Black Equity Coalition elaborated on the collaborative structure: a diverse group of 15+ community stakeholders from institutions like the University of Pittsburgh, Create Lab, and independent consultants. Working under a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “Modernized Anti-Racist Data Ecosystems” (MADE) initiative, Pittsburgh is further along than other cities like Baltimore or Portland due to existing data-sharing infrastructure with the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center.

What Makes This Different

Pittsburgh’s approach is not only local, it’s visionary. According to Phahsa Ras of the Umi Economy, the project reframes data as a community resource, not just a commodity. “If data is the new oil,” Ras argued, “then community is the well. We need to build infrastructure that respects that source.”

The initiative is anchored in values like adaptability, collaboration, inclusivity, and visibility—all critical for building trust and regenerative data ecosystems.

Community in the Driver’s Seat

Alexander Payton from the Kingsley Association brought it home with humor and clarity: “We work with teens on VR and seniors who can’t turn on a laptop. If we’re going to talk data access, we need to build for that whole spectrum.”

The CDJC isn’t just advisory. Members are actively shaping how the city writes data policies, builds visualizations, and designs open data tools. Monthly meetings foster deep dialogue on topics like territorial stigma, privacy, and algorithmic accountability.

The Road Ahead

The vision is bold: grow the CDJC into an official Community Data Advisory Board. It’s a long game with high stakes, but the rewards are tangible. By including residents in decision-making, the city can design better services, build trust, and foster ethical technology.

Pittsburgh is proving that smart cities aren’t just about sensors and servers—they’re about people. And that makes all the difference.