Speaker: Nyota N. Robinson, MPW

Accessibility and equitable access are fundamental to ensuring that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, can fully participate in and benefit from community resources and services. As personal data is increasingly collected, stored, and used by organizations, it is crucial for the community to remain informed about these practices, exercising both responsibility and the right to understand how their information is managed. Transparency helps foster trust and empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their data.

Members of the disability community have voiced significant concerns over the years regarding discrimination, exclusion, and “othering” by non-disabled City of Pittsburgh staff and community members and the public. Addressing these concerns requires intentional efforts to promote inclusion, respect, and meaningful engagement. It is the collective responsibility of all community members to ensure policies and practices are accessible, non-discriminatory, and supportive of everyone’s right to belong and promote data justice.

The above lecture is centered around a working group called the Black Equity Coalition and its partnership with the Forbes Foundation, The University of Pittsburgh, and The City of Pittsburgh to explore how personal data is collected and stored by the City of Pittsburgh.

Join us for our upcoming Community Lecture Night! This will be online only. Please register for the event here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/17UUtHZ6T_yzHovR6Ll0Pw

• When: Monday, November 23rd, from 6:00-7:30 PM
• Where: Zoom AND streaming on YouTube
• Meeting Accessibility:
  • There will be sign language interpreters and closed captioning available on Zoom.
  • Chat will be disabled on Zoom during the lecture to better serve people using screen readers. Participants will still be able to message the hosts.
  • When it comes time for the Q&A, people may ask by messaging in the chat so the host can read it out loud or by raising their hand on Zoom so the host can call on them to ask by voice or by ASL.
  • For more information, check out our Technical Info page.

If anyone has any other access needs please contact accessmobpittsburgh@gmail.com as soon as possible, but no later than November 18th.

Speaker Biography:

Nyota N. Robinson, MPW

President & CEO of Bill Robinson and Associates

Ms. Nyota N. Robinson, MPW, is a distinguished leader and enthusiastic advocate dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of the Disability Community. With a robust background in advocacy, public policy consulting, and community engagement, Nyota has made significant contributions to GOTV (Get Out the Vote) initiatives and voting rights campaigns. As President & CEO at Bill Robinson and Associates, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, successfully trained advocates and managed fundraising efforts to enhance organizational impact and increase voter participation and grant writing.

Nyota’s professional journey includes impactful roles with respected non-profit organizations such as The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and The Alzheimer’s Association. Her commitment to social justice and public policy is further evidenced by her historic appointment as the first woman vice-chair of the Young Democrats of America, as well as other influential leadership positions. Skilled in professional writing and group facilitation, Nyota is recognized for her ability to inspire and mobilize communities toward positive change.

Educationally, Nyota holds a Master’s degree in professional writing from Chatham University and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Point Park University. She is also a proud graduate of the Community College of Allegheny County. Outside of her professional achievements, Nyota is devoted to her family and is the mother of a brilliant son. Her unwavering dedication to driving public policy, social justice, and disability advocacy continues to make a lasting impact in her community and beyond.

Funding for this lecture comes from a grant from the Opportunity Fund.