Emma Bloomberg: How Democratized Data Spurs Action & Strengthens Society

Oct 9

Emma Bloomberg: How Democratized Data Spurs Action & Strengthens Society

In the first episode of our Civic Actors series, host Kristine Michie sits down with Emma Bloomberg, Founder/CEO of Murmuration (and daughter of the former Mayor), to explore the heart of local civic engagement. Through personal stories (reading the Declaration of Independence each 4th of July with her Dad), practical lessons, and powerful examples, the conversation reveals how real change begins close to home and why investing in people and communities matters most. You’ll be drawn into a dialogue that uncovers not only the serious challenges of democracy and civic life, but also the hope, play, and joy that fuel meaningful progress. This is an invitation to see your role in shaping the future—block by block, conversation by conversation.

Key Takeaways:

Murmuration is the phenomenon of birds flying in formation, each influencing the seven birds around them, and thus a great metaphor for individual acts and community organizing.
Emma’s group empowers local organizations with data-driven insights, civic engagement tools, and strategies to strengthen participation.
Every community is unique, but local conversations foster and spread shared solutions that cut through political divides.
Murmuration’s Civic Pulse program surveys 500 people daily to capture community concerns and highlight national trends in hope and engagement.
Small, tangible wins at the local level—like securing a stop sign near a school—can unlock momentum for larger systemic change.
Philanthropy must move beyond one-off victories to invest in long-term civic infrastructure that sustains progress.
Democracy depends on active participation, and when people engage locally, they build resilience against systemic threats.

"If our democracy is under threat, participate in it, because the more of us that are participating, the less under threat it is." — Emma Bloomberg

"Those who control the data, control the systems, control the outcomes, and what we’re trying to do is democratize that." — Emma Bloomberg

"One of the reasons [progress] slips away is that there isn’t that investment in the broader community ecosystem." — Emma Bloomberg

More about Emma Bloomberg:

Emma Bloomberg is the founder and CEO of Murmuration, a civic engagement organization she launched in 2014 to equip community-based groups with the data, tools, and strategies needed to reduce inequality and strengthen democracy. Previously, she served as chief of staff and senior planning officer at the Robin Hood Foundation, where she worked to fight poverty in New York City. She sits on the boards of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, KIPP Foundation, New Classrooms, and Leadership for Educational Equity, and co-leads the Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Foundation, which supports education and animal rights initiatives. A longtime advocate for systemic change through civic participation, she has also advised the Mayoral Leadership in Education Network at Harvard Kennedy School and chaired the Stand for Children Leadership Center.

Connect with Emma:
Website: https://murmuration.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-bloomberg-07a52215/

Connect with Kristine:

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/