The Black Data Collective harnesses the transformative power of data to build equity and justice for Black communities across Canada.
We unite allies, mobilize experts, and advance actionable strategies that dismantle systemic barriers, improve social outcomes, and create lasting economic prosperity. We believe that ethical, community-centered data is not just information—it is the foundation for liberation.
Our Inaugural Project: Decolonizing Data Through National Standards
Our first mission is to establish Canada’s first national framework for the respectful and accurate collection of Black community data. Grounded in the principles of decolonization and reciprocity, these standards will ensure data reflects the true, nuanced realities of Black lives.
This work directly confronts Anti-Black Racism at its source: flawed and biased data. By providing these essential tools, we empower organizations and institutions to build a more truthful and inclusive society.
Our Key Outcomes:
A Sovereign Expert Collective: Cultivating a leading, predominantly Black collective of data scientists, researchers, and community strategists. This network will be a trusted engine of expertise, driving self-determined progress.
A Blueprint for Impact: Developing a strategic roadmap that identifies and scales high-impact initiatives. We focus on ideas that deliver measurable, transformative change for Black communities.
The Black Data Collective incorporates the Seven Cooperative Principles as well as the seven African Centred Principles of the Nguzo Saba in all elements of our work
Voluntary and Open Membership
Democratic Member Control
Member Economic Participation
Autonomy and Independence
Education, Training, and Information
Cooperation among Cooperatives
Concern for Community
Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.