What does equity-centered data really mean?

In this episode of Everyday Equity, Pooja Kothari sits down with Allison Shurilla, founder of AS Community Consulting, to demystify evaluation and data strategy. Allison explains how research doesn’t have to be cold or math-heavy — at its best, it’s about listening to communities, gathering meaningful information, and using it to make better decisions.

They discuss anti-oppression in practice, navigating bias in data, building trust with communities, and why discomfort is often part of growth.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by “evaluation” or wondered how equity connects to research, this conversation makes it clear: it starts with curiosity, humility, and a commitment to doing better.