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About us

Data Platform DEI is the Virtual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion group for the Data Platform community where we come to promote DEI in the data field, provide education on issues, and promote people that are diverse.

Our YouTube where recordings will be uploaded after the sessions is Data , Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Group - YouTube.

Code of Conduct

1. No disrespectful behavior. This includes threats, harassment, stalking, abuse, slurs, profanity, personal attacks, sexual remarks or innuendos, physical violence, public speculation about others, and any other behavior that you would not tolerate others displaying toward you.

2. Respect the presenter and other attendees.

  • Refrain from carrying on conversations during the presentation. If the conversation is necessary, please leave the presentation room.
  • Ask questions but respect the presenter’s wishes regarding when to ask questions (some like questions during the presentation, while others have specific Q&A time slots). Also, give others a chance to ask questions. If you have more than one question, give others a chance to pose theirs before you ask your next question.
  • Don’t challenge the presenter on a point during the presentation. If you feel that the presenter’s information is completely incorrect or off base, signal one of the user group leaders, leave the room to present your information and allow the user group leader to deal with it. Asking a question that might lead to clarification is one thing, directly disagreeing with the presenter leads to embarrassment for the presenter and confusion for other attendees.
  • Avoid asking questions or making statements that will side-track the presentation. However it’s intended, it may be seen as hijacking the presentation.

3. No impersonations of a Microsoft or user group employee, agent, manager, host, or another user.

4. No illegal or offensive activities. Members will not publish, post, distribute, or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene, or other unlawful material or discussion in any group forum or post. This includes, but is not limited to, child pornography, bestiality, incest, illegal drugs, software piracy, discriminatory/racist statements or images, and harassment.

5. Accountability. Members are fully responsible and liable for anything they say (whether orally or in writing) or do. This includes any actions taken based on advice or information received in presentations, online forums, or elsewhere. Remember, always test what you plan to do, regardless of the source of the information.

6. No libel or slander against the user group, Microsoft, or other persons or entities. Libel includes false statements made in written form, such as statements posted to forums or other publicly accessible websites, electronic mail, or any other printed form.

7. No confidentiality violations. Members may inadvertently gain access to certain non-public information during their participation in the group and are expected to honor the confidentiality of the information.

8. No plagiarism. Members may post their own original work or work that they have written permission to post. If a member cites another author’s work, please provide any necessary attribution according to the requirements associated with the original author’s work. Learn more about copyright at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/Copyright/Default.aspx.

9. No discrimination or harassment. This user group is committed to providing a harassment-free experience to members regardless of age, ancestry, color, gender identity or expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical size, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or technology choices. Harassment is unwelcome verbal, physical, or virtual behavior based on the characteristics identified above.

10. No sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal, physical, or virtual behavior based on sex and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same or different gender. Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

  • Unwelcome sexual advances
  • Sexual comments or inappropriate gender-based jokes
  • Excessive, unwelcome romantic attention
  • Offering or conditioning an employment benefit or preferential treatment, like a promotion or job assignment, in exchange for sexual favors
  • Unwelcome physical contact
  • Sharing or displaying sexually explicit content ·
  • Using sexually degrading words Reporting Conduct Violations

If you become aware of a conduct violation on or offline, you are encouraged to report it to a user group leader. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a user group leader or member of the event staff immediately.

Upcoming events

1

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  • Celebrating DEI - Because Happiness Happens When Everyone Belongs

    Celebrating DEI - Because Happiness Happens When Everyone Belongs

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    Online
    Online

    August is Happiness Happens Month, and we’re celebrating it by uplifting the joy, creativity, and innovation that flourish in a truly inclusive data community.

    The Microsoft Data Platform DEI Group is holding a special event dedicated to all things diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, neurodiversity, and belonging. We looked for speakers who wanted to share stories, strategies, lived experiences, and practical insights that help our community grow stronger — and happier — together.

    | Time (EDT) | Title | Speaker |
    | ---------- | ----- | ------- |
    | 09:30am | What Ketchup/Curry Teach Us About Inclusion | Paresh Motiwala |
    | 10:30am | Make Space for Joy: Neurodiversity, Data Teams and the Science of Happier Work | Noemi Castaldo |
    | 10:45am | The survival kit. The journey of a Latina in data | Gilda Alvarez |
    | 11:00am | Before the Prompt: Why AI Keeps Skipping Neurodivergent Thinkers (And the 10-Minute Fix) | Devika Toprani |
    | 12:00pm | Talking about mental health - For you and for them | Traci Sewell |
    | 01:00pm | Building the Team You Need, Not the Résumé You Want | Lee Coates |
    | 02:00pm | Creating a Personal Brand for Career Success | Barkha Herman |
    | 03:00pm | Identity, Belonging, and Reinvention: The Human Side of Happiness in Technical Communities | Amanda Lentz |
    | 04:00pm | Diversity Equity & Inclusion in Data Architecture | Edward Pollack |

    • Photo of the user
    • Photo of the user
    • Photo of the user
    10 attendees

Group links

Organizers

Tracy B. and 1 other are Super Organizers

Members

301
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