Laura D. Email and Phone Number

Research, statistics and data analysis for the redistricting team.

- Lead mapper for statewide and local redistricting coalitions. Working with community based organizations to draw equitable districts that provide fair and effective representation, while ensuring compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act.- Research lead for the We Count Los Angeles 2020 Census campaign. Provided maps and analysis of low-responding Census hot spots to support Census outreach to hundreds of community-based and governmental organizations in LA County.- Created the We Count LA Dashboard (bit.ly/WeCountDashBoard), an interactive platform that provided free access to Census self-response rate maps and data.- Published bi-weekly Census self-response rate reports for the We Count LA campaign and the My Black Counts campaign, helping organizations focus their outreach efforts on the lowest responding areas with the greatest potential for undercounting key demographic groups.- Currently developing interactive mapping and data sharing workflow to improve how the team shares data internally and externally. - Use open source technologies such as R, PostGIS and QGIS to analyze and visualize geospatial data.

- Researched the implementation of the Voter's Choice Act in California: Developed interview, focus group and survey protocols on Voter's Choice Act (VCA) implementation and voter experience. Administered the survey to 200+ people during the 2018 voting period. Interviewed 20+ election officials and stakeholders on their role in VCA implementation and perception of success. Analyzed qualitative on VCA implementation and quantitative voter data on VCA election behavior and co-authored several research reports on the topic.- Increased the volume and speed of data acquisition and analysis for all projects within the organization by developing generalizable scripts in R.- Expanded the analytical capacity of the organization as the first full-time employee with a geospatial analysis and programming skill set.- Developed a series of research briefs reporting on the economic well-being of Latinos (California Latino Economic Institute). Wrote three briefs on the topics of housing, education and entrepreneurship (in press). Developed a quantitative index to pinpoint areas of economic opportunity and disparity for Latinos in CA.- For the California Latino Economic Institute, created an efficient analysis workflow for a study on socioeconomic disparities among different race and ethnic groups in California, which included collecting and analyzing more than 25 datasets from agencies such as the U.S. Census and the CA Department of Education and created a statewide index and a series of maps to highlight areas of compounded inequality.- Managed the 2018 Vote Center Siting Tool project, and developed the analytical logic of the siting tool model. Built relationships with county registrars and community groups to get feedback on the Siting Tool and improve the quality of the analysis.

- Worked with Immigration Caseworkers to help clients navigate USCIS bureaucracy.- Explained complex application immigration processes in accessible terms to limited-Englishspeakers, in both English and Spanish.- Conducted citizenship workshops, including pre-screening in English and Spanish, set-up andintake, form filling and application follow up.- Accurately maintained client records in ETO and tracked application notices while cheerfullyhandling general phone and walk-in inquiries about IRC services in a fast-paced environment.- Developed a semi-automated audit process in Excel to cross-reference multiple citizenshipdatabases and ensure that N-400 applications are being accurately recorded and tracked.Assisted IRC clients in applying for immigration services and benefits including, but not limitedto, citizenship, adjustment of status and family petitions. Presented method to all immigration coordinators in Northern California.

- Implemented the quantitative analysis of research study on the spatial distribution of migration policies. Completed statistical analyses using logistic and multilevel models; wrote the data and methods sections for the (forthcoming) academic paper based on this analysis.- Used R to efficiently analyze data from the US Census and other public sources at the city and county level nationwide.

Increased the number of spatial analysis skills taught to students by developing 4 new lab assignments from scratch.Received excellent reviews from students for both years of teaching

Garnered more than 1,250 views online of maps created for the project Mapping California’s Politically Vulnerable Communities, published in collaboration with the California Secretary of State. Created more than 60 maps for the project, which were used in press releases.

Analyzed environmental and demographic data for the purpose of conservation planning and government resource distribution planning. Designed maps for a wide variety of purposes including technical documentation, marketing, and government recreation brochures. Researched protected areas for the California Protected Areas Database and the California Conservation Easement Database, and edited the databases for improved accuracy. Efficiently juggled multiple spatial analysis and cartographic projects simultaneously, while keeping clients happy by completing projects on time and under budget.

Developed a GIS database of property ownership and land cover in the Mache Chindul forest in Ecuador for the conservation project Forest for a Living. Created maps for the project’s technical documentation, which was submitted to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).

Created, edited and designed informative maps for a book on economic and environmental development policy in the border region of Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan: River Basin Development and Human Rights in Eastern Africa--A Policy Crossroads.

- Collected and analyzed data for public health bike study.- Worked independently and with a research team to create methodology and analytical maps for the study using ArcMap and ArcScene.

Edited and created maps for public transportation projects, travel guidebooks, national park services using Illustrator and ArcMap.