The AI Trust Deficit: Why Public Perception Moves Faster Than Policy
Generative AI tools (ChatGPT and image
generators) are becoming more widely used by Americans, yet public trust isn't keeping pace. The Quinnipiac AI Poll shows over half believe AI will harm education, with most trusting AI only "some of the time" or "hardly ever." Many feel businesses and government manage AI inadequately, while concerns about political misuse and misinformation persist. Tamilla Triantoro will examine the gap between AI adoption and trust using survey data, deployment trends, and forecasts from the World Economic Forum and Anthropic Economic Index. We'll explore what fuels this skepticism, oversight limitations, and strategies for building human-centered
AI systems that can earn trust in 2026 and beyond.
Community Vulnerability vs. Deprivation: Analyzing Spatial Equity Data
Analyzing GIS data is a powerful tool in any analyst's toolkit. In this session, we will show how combining the use of Excel, GeoDa and
PolicyMap to analyze census tract-level socioeconomic indicators from the Area Deprivation Index and Social Vulnerability Index, can result in powerful analysis to address inequities. Emil Coman and Shayna Cunningham will demonstrate how to open files, aggregate data across different geographies, and analyze
correlation and spatial statistics. By applying these methods, you will leave with a better understanding of how to utilize spatial analysis in your equity work.
Data as Civic Engagement: Communities Thrive When They're Informed
Filling out a survey
can be a meaningful way to help shape decisions that affect your community, from how funding is distributed to what services are prioritized. Too often, however, people from marginalized communities are excluded from both the data collection process and access to the resulting findings. Join Melvette Hill, Megan Baker, and Yukiyo Iida as they examine two important ideas that relate to data as civic engagement: how communities can collect and use data in more inclusive ways, and how data can be used to push for real change. Communities thrive when they’re informed.
Improving Maternal Health Outcomes through Data
Connections
The US has continued to see a rise in maternal mortality since 2000. During this session, presenters will explore how data connections can transform and improve maternal health outcomes. Fragmented maternal mortality surveillance systems create data gaps that perpetuate health inequities, particularly for Black mothers. Ellyn M. Russo and Kimberly Montero will explore frameworks for improving data collection and integration to improve maternal health outcomes. We will also explore a project based in a
Connecticut hospital system that connects patient characteristics, care environments, and social determinants, demonstrating how data integration transforms maternal health insights and drives accountability through quality improvement initiatives that enhance maternity care outcomes.
Connie: Transforming Healthcare Through Data Equity and Integration
Connie, Connecticut's designated Health Information Exchange (HIE), has rapidly become a vital part of the state's healthcare infrastructure, connecting over 3,100 provider locations. This session, will explore how Connie is enabling
better care coordination, improving health outcomes, and advancing health and data equity as a neutral, nonprofit platform that ensures all providers can access and share patient information efficiently and equitably. Amanda
Crociata and Russel Dexter will talk
about the legislative foundation behind Connie's creation, how its services support personalized care while empowering patients with access to their own health information, and how these tools can support health data equity and are transforming healthcare delivery in Connecticut.
