CHICAGO, June 1, 2022 - In the fall of 2020, the chief executive officers of nine leading policy research organizations met to discuss the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of public policy research and in their individual workplaces. The result is the Evidence and Equity Collaborative. The first collaboration of its kind within the policy research field, the Evidence and Equity Collaborative brings together market leaders Abt Associates, the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Mathematica, MDRC, NORC at the University of Chicago, the RAND Corporation, RTI International, the Urban Institute, and Westat for an initiative outside their usual roles as business competitors.

As members of the Evidence and Equity Collaborative, these nine organizations, representing more than 20,000 employees, are joining forces to support diversity in their workplaces, strengthen inclusive practices in policy research, and build a foundation for equitable analysis ready to inform policymaking across the nation. 

The Evidence and Equity Collaborative’s agenda will include a range of opportunities for members to learn from each other and from broader communities. Plans include facilitating DEI dialogue within member organizations and among those who fund, develop, and implement policies and programs; meeting with communities affected by those policies and programs; contributing to the development of research best practices informed by DEI principles; and creating opportunities for aspiring researchers from underrepresented groups. 

“NORC at the University of Chicago is proud to be a member of the Evidence and Equity Collaborative. Together, with these eight organizations, we are exploring best practices around conducting culturally responsive research and sharing practical solutions to enhance equity in our work,” said Dan Gaylin, president and CEO of NORC at the University of Chicago. “The collaborative is an invaluable opportunity to learn together as colleagues and as we seek to elevate diverse perspectives in our research, in our communities, and throughout the world.”

As a unique effort with a deeply held purpose, the Evidence and Equity Collaborative is set to accelerate progress within the field of program and policy research, while putting the power of its deep bench of expertise into advancing transformational change.