About JEDI - CAUSE
Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education
Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
The JEDI-CAUSE website supports, encourages, and recognizes the need of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in the practice and teaching of statistics and data science. Because each person is a complex intersection of identities, such as mother, student, black, disabled, gender-queer, this website offers resources for you, to learn about and/or teach with a JEDI infused curriculum.
In May 2022, more than 25% of the breakout sessions at the electronic conference on teaching statistics (eCOTS) were related to either justice, education, diversity, or inclusion (JEDI). The desire and interest for JEDI resources was apparent, so a group of us set out to create a central location where statistics educators could find JEDI materials for teaching and professional growth. Using the JEDI resources, we have the opportunity to evolve and adapt statistics education and practices to suit the needs of our ever-changing world and students.
Arising from a strategic initiative of the American Statistical Association, the Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education (CAUSE) is a national organization whose mission is to support and advance undergraduate statistics education in four target areas: resources, professional development, outreach, and research. Also an initiative of the American Statistical Association, the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Outreach Group is a community of statisticians and data scientists committed to communication, programming, and professional development to advance and support a society that values all people. Pairing the two groups brings together teaching thoughtfulness under an inclusive lens.
The JEDI-CAUSE website has now become a valuable set of resources related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion to be used inside and outside the classroom. Acknowledging that the classroom is a space where humanity and education intersect, we think of our students first as people. In that light, the team has compiled examples, activities, and references to help instructors in varied environments teach in a way that is equitable, inclusive, and responsive to diverse student needs. Additionally, some of the website entries are designed to support teachers engaged in JEDI work as they navigate their professional trajectory beyond the classroom. As educators, we understand that time is limited; we’ve collected resources that we ourselves have found useful and that we want to share with other instructors.
The JEDI-CAUSE logo is a Venn Diagram, which is not only mathematically correct (feel free to check our work!) but percolates with symbolism. Each oval represents one letter from the four cornerstones of our work: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. At times the topics are inseparable, but sometimes they are distinct. The rainbow colors pay homage to those of us in the LGBTQ+ community, and the blending of colors in the “heart” of the logo shows the diversity among us all.
Individual contributions are appreciated and acknowledged on each of the resource pages. The original website development team includes Jennifer Ward, Andrew Ferguson, Tyler George, Jo Hardin, and Jess Kunke.