ChangeInsight Data Equity Summit
Overview
Data, Trust, and the Nonprofit Sector
How AI is changing programs, funding, and community trust, and what to do about it.
Save the date for our in-person 2026 Data Equity Summit — a day of practical, cross-sector conversation on how AI, community data, and impact measurement are reshaping decisions that affect AAPI communities.
We’re bringing together ChangeInSight partners, nonprofit leaders, funders, researchers, and public officials to move past the hype and get into real questions: where AI can responsibly support community and nonprofit data work, and where privacy, bias, consent, and community trust require caution and human judgment.
Sessions
9:00 am | Welcome Remarks
Speakers: Paul Luu, CEO, CASL; Ald. Nicole Lee (11th Ward); Thy Nguyen, VP of Impact & Advocacy, CASL
10:00 am | Data, Trust, and the Nonprofit Sector — How AI Is Changing Programs, Funding, and Community Trust
A moderated panel on how AI is outpacing nonprofit policy, budgets, and governance — and what responsible use requires when real people and communities are behind the data.
Moderator: Thy Nguyen
Panelists: Theo Lim, Head of Finance, Synopsis; Gina Chen, Founder & Managing Attorney, One Ally; Julian Diaz, Impact Associate, Julian Grace Foundation; Scott McLellan, Executive Director, Julian Grace Foundation
11:00 am | Asking Shapes What We See — Cultural Humility, Disaggregation, and Better Community Data
A facilitated conversation on how culture, identity, relationships, and representation shape the information organizations receive — and what organizations can do differently. A survey question may look neutral on paper; the experience of answering it often is not.
Speaker: Liza Merrill, Executive Director, Asian Pacific Community in Action
Facilitator: David Li
11:45 am – 1:00pm | Networking & Lunch
1:00 pm | Built in Chicago — Lessons on Trust, Community Data, and What Works in Practice
Longtime Chicago ChangeInSight partners close the day by sharing what they’ve learned about participation, relationships, cultural context, and the work required to gather meaningful community information. Before asking what AI can do with information, this session returns to a more fundamental question: what makes information worth trusting in the first place?
Moderator: David Li
Event Logistics
Arrival & Check-In
Doors open at 8:30 am.
- Enter the main building entrance, Northwest corner of Madison and Wells
- Have a valid photo ID ready
- Check in with building security
- Security will escort you through the elevators to the event floor (4th floor)
- Check in with event registration to receive your name tag
Program starts at 9:00 am. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Location
Impact House 200 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60606
Getting there by train
Impact House sits steps from the Washington/Wells CTA “L” stop, served by the Brown, Green, Pink, and Purple lines. It’s also a short walk from the Washington Blue Line stop, Ogilvie Transportation Center, and Union Station if you’re coming in by Metra.
Paid Parking
Prepay online at The Poetry Garage (201 W Madison): https://www.thepoetrygarage.com/
Use code PARKFBRK at checkout for 10% off the all-day special.
Dress Code
Business / business casual
What to expect
- A panel on responsible nonprofit AI practice, featuring community, funder, and privacy/legal perspectives
- Partner-led sessions spotlighting ChangeInSight partners’ work
- Structured networking across community, funding, research, and public sectors
Registration
- ChangeInSight Partners: Free
- Non-Partners: $35 to help cover lunch and light refreshments.
Doors open at 8:30am. Attendance is open to all.