Data Are Made, Not Found: A Story of Politics, Power, and the Civil Servants Who Saved the US Census

Please join us on Monday, November 2, 2026, from 3:30 pm to 5 pm for a conversation with danah boyd and signing of her new book, Data Are Made, Not Found: A Story of Politics, Power, and the Civil Servants Who Saved the U.S. Census.

The conversation will explore how census data are created and the complex relationships among data, democracy, political power, public resources, community, and identity. It will also examine the important role of civil servants in safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. Census, along with broader issues involving civil society, privacy, technology, governance, and public engagement.

The discussion will conclude by considering current threats to the independence and integrity of the upcoming census and the administrative state more broadly, emphasizing the importance of understanding how the infrastructure of our democracy works - and what role public education, effective storytelling, and civic participation can play.

This program is open to all eligible individuals. USC Annenberg operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

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