One of the ways we engage new ideas is by hosting TMI Labs: Forums where social scientists, advocates, and peers can discuss strategies to address today’s civil rights challenges.

November 2020

What do Taxes Have to Do with It? How Tax Policy Perpetuates Racial Inequities

The Institute convened social scientists and tax policy experts to discuss elements of American tax policy that disadvantage Black and low-income Americans.

November 2020 What do Taxes Have to Do with It? How Tax Policy Perpetuates Racial Inequities

July 2020

Protecting and Advancing Voting Rights During the Pandemic

The Institute facilitated an exchange of strategies among voting rights advocates at the federal, state, and local levels about the best approaches to maximize voter participation and combat voter suppression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2020 Protecting and Advancing Voting Rights During the Pandemic

November 2019

Artificial Intelligence, Criminal Justice, And Civil Rights in the Digital Age

This Lab brought together data scientists, technologists, reporters, academics, and attorneys to discuss the nexus of artificial intelligence, criminal justice, and civil rights, including predictive policing, risk assessments, and facial recognition technology.

November 2019 Artificial Intelligence, Criminal Justice, And Civil Rights in the Digital Age

July 2019

Water Inequities Impacting Black Communities

This Lab brought together economists, attorneys, academics, activists, and reporters to discuss the most pressing water issues impacting Black communities across the nation, including affordability, contamination, and infrastructure.

July 2019 Water Inequities Impacting Black Communities

May 2019

Housing Expert Training

The Institute hosted a Housing Expert Training at the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University. This TMI Lab brought together new and established experts in a variety of fields, as well as a group of experienced civil rights attorneys, to discuss best practices for litigating Fair Housing Act cases.

May 2019  Housing Expert Training

November 2018

Electoral Accountability and Get Out the Vote

Participants discussed electoral research and strategies to better equip our country's voters.

November 2018 Electoral Accountability and Get Out the Vote

August 2018

Opening Up the LDF Archives

LDF staff met with one another to discuss the logistics of opening up our archives, a project that has organized the decades of LDF history.

August 2018 Opening Up the LDF Archives

Summer 2017

Understanding the Mind: Implicit Bias, Racial Anxiety, and the Law

We co-hosted our second Lab of 2017 with the Perception Institute. Participants examined implicit bias through the lens of the justice system and considered how our unconscious brains process information about race. We also discussed updated research on racial anxiety and stereotype threat and considered whether implicit bias can be advanced as part of a cognizable claim in civil and criminal litigation.

Summer 2017 Understanding the Mind: Implicit Bias, Racial Anxiety, and the Law

Spring 2017

Preparing Students of Color for the 21st Century through Deeper Learning Instruction and Assessments

Our Deeper Learning Lab explored project-based instruction and assessment that gives students real-world experiences and helps develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills needed for success in today’s global economy.

Spring 2017 Preparing Students of Color for the 21st Century through Deeper Learning Instruction and Assessments

Summer 2016

Affirmative Action Convening

The Lab focused on affirmative action efforts in response to the Fisher v. Univ. of Texas II decision and similar legal challenges pending against the University of North Carolina and Harvard University.

Summer 2016 Affirmative Action Convening