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OUR MISSION At The IDH

New technology always brings change.
In many ways, 20 years after the digital revolution,
we’re more connected than ever before.
 
But is this a genuine connection?
And -- as a society -- what has it cost us? 
 
How many personal liberties and privacy values are we willing to sacrifice
under the guise of security?
 
How many human decisionmakers
-- doctors, lawyers, public servants, psychologists, and teachers --
will we allow to be replaced
by biased and inaccurate algorithms?
 
How much online hate speech
-- and digital infringement on our free speech --
will we allow to contaminate and stifle our democracy?
 
How divided and manipulated will we allow ourselves to become
-- by social media's filter bubbles --
before we put our feet down
and collectively say “enough is enough”?
For the IDH,
the time to act is now.
As a student-run digital ethics think tank
-- founded out of North Central University in downtown Minneapolis --
the IDH builds coalitions across the digital divide
by bringing diverse and bi-partisan teams
of students, advocates, researches, educators, and politicians
together to fight for a free and just post-digital world.
 
Through our academic research,
nationally piloted high school and college curricula,
video and art advocacy,
and community education workshops,
the IDH asks everyone a simple question:
 
Technology is going to keep expanding
-- and changing what it means to be
a patient, a citizen, a politician, a student
a person
in this post-digital world --
shouldn’t we all have a say in where it’s heading?
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DEI STATEMENT

Foundational Principles

  • Algorithms are created by humans who have biases, both implicit and explicit. These biases have larger institutional effects and contribute to the oppression of already marginalized communities. 
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  • The majority of those creating algorithms are relatively affluent white men in their twenties and thirties, who hold the most societal and institutional power. As a result, the majority of the negative effects of algorithmic biases are inflicted upon women and other marginalized genders, BIPOC, the elderly, people from lower socioeconomic households, and other groups who are systematically oppressed.
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  • Our ability to create inclusive spaces is a skill that we are continuously building. We are dedicated to calling ourselves in and others out as we learn more about what it means to be truly inclusive. 
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  • Constructive disagreement is often a necessary component of and driver for needed change. Those disagreeing must be aware of the institutional power they hold and hold themselves accountable for ensuring they do not silence other voices.
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  • Humanity is intentionally part of the name of our organization. Central to our mission is the notion that humanity itself is to be valued, and the life and lived experiences of every individual has intrinsic value. 
Mission
DEI

Short STATEMENT

The Institute for Digital Humanity (IDH) believes in the collective power of people. We are committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space for all, regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, language, migratory status, disability/ability, political affiliation, socioeconomic background, and veteran status. We believe that centering inclusion is pivotal to our pursuit of creating a more just, human-centered world. 

Full STATEMENT

The Institute for Digital Humanity (IDH) believes in the collective power of people. We are committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space for all, and believe that centering inclusion is pivotal to our pursuit of creating a more just, human-centered world.

At IDH, we are committed to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are fully integrated into our work as well as everything we do for the benefit of our employees and the clients that we serve. To fully realize our goal, we prioritize our understanding of the complexities of DEI within our workforce. We believe that this guides how we treat employees, colleagues, partners, and other stakeholders; do our work; and position our content and materials we develop.

At IDH, diversity includes: age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, language, migratory status, disability/ability, political affiliation, socioeconomic background, and veteran status. Diversity also includes differences in thought, values, beliefs, and ideas. We believe that we cannot advocate for our rights if we do not represent the people we fight for. We utilize equity frameworks to ensure diversity throughout the organization.

At IDH, equity refers to the creation and continuation of a community that is focused on justice, fairness, and access to all. We are committed to the hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse leaders. We recognize the need for equitable practices to be inclusive of all identities, acknowledging that the intersection of identities can have various effects in the amount of power someone may hold.

At IDH, inclusion refers to the center of our efforts to build an intentional culture that fosters feelings of belonging and honors the differences of our colleagues, clients, partners, and vendors. We believe that by centering our differences, we create a more diverse and equitable organization and society. We recognize that digital discrimination affects populations differently and our work must listen, include, and center the populations we fight for. We work to create a space and community where everyone feels respected, included, and valued. We believe differences are strengths and take seriously our professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities to honor each other’s right to be different.
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