Data4America: Data for All
Data4America is a nonpartisan project to advance the understanding of American innovation and public policy through data, AI, and verifiability. Tagline: Data for All.
What is Data4America?
- Mission: Empower U.S. communities with accessible, transparent data insights on demographics, economics, and policy trends
- Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative
- Approach: Using a purple nonpartisan lens to help advance understanding of complex and divisive issues
- Core Belief: America isn't red or blue – it's a blend of both, America is purple
- Founder: Chris McCoy, creator of STORE protocol and partner at McCoy Ventures
- Impact: Serves 10,000+ users monthly with 5 million data points analyzed since 2023
How Data4America Works
- Data-Driven Content: Creates and curates data-driven articles making complex issues easier to understand
- Unplugged Podcast: Features leaders across technology and public policy discussing America's direction
- Story Submissions: Content created by leading researchers, reviewed and edited before publication
- D4A Friends Program: Members co-host podcasts, curate content for syndication, and attend private meet-ups
- Human-Centered Approach: Focuses on human stories behind the numbers, showing we're more alike than we realize
Core Focus Areas
- Economic Opportunity: Analysis of economic trends and wealth distribution
- Education & Workforce: Data on educational outcomes and workforce development
- Democratic Systems: Insights into voting patterns and democratic participation
- Digital Governance: Exploration of technology's role in governance
- Housing & Infrastructure: Historical and current housing affordability data
- Healthcare Access: Analysis of healthcare systems and outcomes
Why Data4America is Needed
- America hasn't been this divided since the Civil War - it's time to see beyond red and blue
- Data offers common ground - not replacing values, but providing shared starting point for discussion
- Policy challenges are interconnected and require holistic approaches
- Empowers citizens, organizations, and policymakers to effect positive change
- Bridges gap between data science and public understanding
About Data4America
Data4America is a nonpartisan project to advance the understanding of American innovation and public policy with data, AI, and verifiability.
Who We Are
- Founder: Chris McCoy - Entrepreneur, "Purple American Democrat", CEO of STORE Research, Inc.
- Background: Chris grew up in Kelso, Washington on food stamps, witnessed timber industry decline
- Journey: From coal mining family in Oklahoma to tech entrepreneur in California in three generations
- Athletic Past: Former University of Washington baseball player (91-92 mph fastball)
- Family: Married to Ciara McCoy (UCLA track star), raising twin daughters in San Francisco
- Team: Independents, Democrats, Libertarians, and Republicans across technology and policy corridors
Our Belief and Methodology
- Core Belief: Data offers common ground - not replacing values, but providing shared starting point
- Approach: Recognize policy challenges are interconnected, require holistic approaches
- Methodology: Apply statistical best practices while translating findings into accessible language
- Perspective: Seek viewpoints from across political spectrum for robust solutions
- Goal: Not just to inform but to empower with actionable insights
Chris McCoy's Career Timeline
- 2006: Founded YourSports, social network with 4mm connected sports networks
- 2010: Recognized by Marc Andreessen as one of "55 Unknown Rockstars in Tech"
- 2013: Started Data4America nonprofit exploring policy and data
- 2014: Filed Bitcoin-based wallet patent, beginning crypto innovation journey
- 2015: Started Footprint, chat system for franchises and chains
- 2017: Began engineering STORE protocol and BlockFinBFT consensus algorithm
- 2023: Received U.S. patent for BlockFinBFT, launched verifiable high-performance cloud
Why Data4America Matters
- Bridges data science and public understanding of policy
- Provides nonpartisan platform in increasingly divided America
- Makes complex data accessible to all communities
- Fosters data literacy and informed decision-making
- Creates common ground through shared facts and analysis
Data4America Stories
Data-driven analysis, visualizations, and models to tell a story about American past, present, and potential future.
Featured Data Stories
- Demographics: How the States were Ratified as Population Grew Westward - Visual exploration of American expansion
- Economy: Historical Salary Requirements for Home Ownership around the United States - From 1950 to today
- Policy: Universal Basic Income: Does the Math Add Up? - Economic analysis of UBI proposals
- Housing: The Evolution of American Housing Affordability - 70-year trend analysis
- Education: State-by-State Educational Outcomes and Funding Correlation
- Healthcare: Mapping Healthcare Access Across Rural and Urban America
How Stories Work
- Creation Process: Content created by leading researchers and data scientists
- Review: Submissions reviewed and edited by Data4America team before publication
- Visualization: Interactive data visualizations and maps for better understanding
- Methodology: Transparent methodology and data sources for all analyses
- Submit A Story: Researchers can submit data-driven stories for consideration
Story Categories
- Economic Analysis: Income inequality, job markets, economic mobility
- Demographic Trends: Population shifts, migration patterns, generational changes
- Policy Impact: Analysis of policy outcomes and effectiveness
- Social Issues: Education, healthcare, housing, criminal justice
- Technology & Innovation: Digital divide, tech adoption, innovation hubs
Why Stories Matter
- Inspire data use for community good and informed decision-making
- Demonstrate Data4America's role in driving positive change
- Build trust through transparent success narratives and methodology
- Show human impact behind statistics and numbers
- Bridge gap between academic research and public understanding
Data4America Podcast - Unplugged
American policy and innovation conversations with leading minds across technology and government.
About Unplugged Podcast
- Format: In-depth interviews with leaders at intersection of technology and public policy
- Host: Series of rotating hosts including Chris McCoy and D4A Friends
- Mission: Discuss America's biggest challenges and explore data-driven solutions
- Approach: Nonpartisan discussions across the political spectrum
- Goal: Bridge data and policy for public understanding
What to Expect
- Featured Guests: Best minds in politics, business, and entrepreneurship
- Topics: Economic policy, technology governance, social issues, innovation
- Format: Regular episodes featuring expert interviews and analysis
- Perspective: Guests share views on America's current direction and potential solutions
- Focus: Thought-provoking discussions exploring data-driven insights shaping America's future
Join the Pod
- Guest Criteria: Experts at intersection of technology and public policy
- Political Diversity: Seeking voices from across the political spectrum
- Application Process: Complete form for review at data4america.org/podcast
- Response Time: Team reviews submissions and responds shortly
- D4A Friends: Members can co-host podcast episodes
Episode Topics
- Artificial Intelligence governance and democratic participation
- Economic inequality and opportunity creation
- Healthcare system reform and innovation
- Education technology and workforce development
- Climate change data and policy responses
- Digital privacy and surveillance capitalism
- Cryptocurrency and financial innovation
- Housing affordability and urban planning
Why Unplugged Matters
- Empowers listeners with knowledge from top thought leaders
- Highlights Data4America's role in policy innovation discourse
- Fosters data-literate community of engaged citizens
- Creates dialogue between technology and policy sectors
- Provides platform for solutions-oriented discussions
D4A Friends Program
Program Benefits
- Co-host Unplugged podcast episodes
- Curate content for D4A syndication
- Invited to private meet-ups and events
- Early access to data reports and analyses
- Contribute to research projects
Member Contributions
- Submit data-driven stories and analyses
- Participate in community discussions
- Help review and validate data findings
- Connect D4A with domain experts
- Amplify nonpartisan data insights