Informatics Seminar Series
Spring Quarter 2021

Abstract:
MEASURE is a research and advocacy organization that empowers BIPOC people to use data to tell their own stories. They seek to cultivate measurable progress between people and institutions that serve them. Today, MEASURE is responsible for mobilizing communities that are furthest from opportunity to fight against systematic disparities in health, economics, criminalization, and education through the CARE Model. The CARE model is a method for working an active partnership with communities to develop solutions to complex social problems. It provides a means for increasing meaningful engagement and minimizing potential trauma to the community. The CARE Model empowers organizations that serve people of color by providing direction to help communities lead the work. By utilizing the strategies and mechanisms outlined in the CARE Model, organizations will have programs that result in changes that are equitable and representative of community members voices. Far too often, traditional academic models of research fail to shift power back to the communities they are researching. The CARE Model disrupts this problem in exchange for community-led study and solutions.

Bio:
Meme Styles founded MEASURE in 2015 to promote the use of evidence-based projects and tools to tell real-life stories behind the numbers. As a catalyst for systems change, MEASURE has grown to a fully operational nonprofit social enterprise providing free data support to Black and Brown-led organizations. They are also responsible for strategic partnerships with the University of Texas, Texas Southern University and other institutions with a goal of disrupting traditional research in exchange for Black and Brown-lead lived-experience protocols. Styles is an AARO McBee Fellow, past-Chairwoman of Miss Juneteenth, Austin Police Chief’s Award of Excellence recipient, past-Chairwoman of African TV5 (AFTV5), and the Austin Black Chamber's 2017 Community Leader of the Year. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and holds a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration on national security.