Brandeis University

• Strategic Partnerships: The RJxTP program is dedicated to forming key partnerships with premier organizations and institutions, thereby enriching our program’s depth and extending its reach across diverse sectors. We have successfully forged strategic collaborations with entities such as Move Up Global, UGHE/Partners in Health, Affirmation Education, iThrive Games, RAND, UMass, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Norrsken’s AQS, various Massachusetts school districts, and the CDC. These partnerships underscore our steadfast dedication to collaborative efforts and our program’s dynamic ability to establish significant connections. These collaborations contribute unique insights and cater to distinct needs, thereby enhancing our initiatives’ effectiveness.

• Knowledge Production: Education Tackling Algorithmic Bias

In just two years since its inception, RJxTP has conducted a range of professional seminars, workshops, and the development of micro-credentials/certificate programs, engaging over 700 students across diverse educational backgrounds and over 20 faculty members.

Our online certificate/micro-credentials offer learners a flexible, affordable, and up-to-date way to acquire knowledge. This approach not only prepares individuals for the dynamic AI and job market but also arms them with the tools needed to excel and make impactful contributions in their fields.

We piloted the first eight-week course– “The Past and Future of Education in America”–in June 2023. We expect to introduce 10 more courses in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, rounding out to a comprehensive series of 11 courses. Covering a wide array of topics crucial for understanding and mitigating algorithmic bias — from AI literacy, cybersecurity, and anti-racism to lessons on antisemitism and the prevention of holocaust and mass atrocities — the curriculum is tailored to meet the intersectionality and challenges posed by contemporary technological advancements.

This initiative embodies Brandeis University’s longstanding commitment to social justice and innovation in education, equipping individuals at various stages in their careers to be at the forefront of educational evolution. It aims to prepare future leaders to advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the realms of technology development and policy creation.

• Research and Collaboration: The RJxTP Incubator Lab/Research Lab serves as a nexus for interdisciplinary collaboration, tackling key issues such as algorithmic bias in critical sectors like education, finance, health care, housing, and criminal justice. So far, we have 9 research teams and nearly 30 students have been funded through this initiative, with > 70% of research leads identifying as female and > 85% of researchers being from marginalized communities.

• Awards and Recognition: The ‘RJxTP Award‘ celebrates exceptional and groundbreaking research that synergizes racial justice with technology policy. This accolade fosters a culture of creative innovation, supported, and enriched by the expertise of distinguished technical advisors.

• Global and Domestic Impact: RJxTP’s global and domestic initiatives showcase its commitment to leveraging technology for social justice, with notable partnerships expanding its impact. A key collaboration with Move Up Global has made significant strides in addressing the digital divide in Rwanda, enhancing education and health access through technology. Similarly, partnering with Erich Schumann has enriched RJxTP’s educational offerings, with plans to make cybersecurity and AI literacy courses available to students in South America and the Caribbean. Domestically, the Ashland Brandeis Connection (ABC) initiative highlights RJxTP’s dedication to empowering BIPOC communities in the U.S., providing essential academic support and technological tools to under-resourced high school students in Mississippi. Together, these efforts embody RJxTP’s mission to create a more equitable and just technological landscape, bridging gaps in access and opportunity both globally and locally.