The Convergence Project

How to Read
a Research Deck

These decks are built to be accessible — not academic. Whether you're opening one for yourself, in a classroom, or at a community meeting, here's how to use them well.

Start Here

Reading a Deck —
Step by Step

Each deck is a self-contained research presentation built around one topic. They're designed so you can go as deep or as light as your time allows — the key numbers are always visible, the full context is always there if you want it.

  1. 01 Start with the hero stat. That big number at the top sets the stakes for everything that follows. Let it land before you scroll.
  2. 02 Read the section labels. Each section has a short label in gold above the title — like "Follow the Money" or "Who Carries the Weight." That label tells you the angle before you read the data.
  3. 03 Don't skip the callout boxes. Gold-bordered italic text = the single most important takeaway from that section. If you're short on time, at least read those.
  4. 04 Use the charts interactively. On desktop, hover over any bar or data point to see exact values. On mobile, focus on the chart title, the color key, and the note beneath it.
  5. 05 Look for the equity lens. Every deck flags who the data affects most — by race, income, geography, age. If something reads as a national average, ask who that average is hiding.
  6. 06 Hit the Source Bank for anything that surprises you. Every stat links directly to its original source — a government database, peer-reviewed study, or nonpartisan institution. Skepticism is welcome and built in.
  7. 07 Share the deck directly, not just this page. Each deck has its own URL. That link opens directly for anyone — no login, no paywall. The more people see the full picture, the more pressure builds for real change.

The decks don't tell you what to think. They hand you the receipts and let you decide. That's the design choice. Information with sources is a gift. What you do with it is yours.

For Educators

Using the Library
in the Classroom

Each deck is a standalone lesson. They're designed to work with existing curriculum — not replace it — and to give students a reason to care about civics, data literacy, and community.

Pairing Decks with Subjects
Deck 03 (Basic Needs) → Policy failure unit

Deck 11 (Arts & History) → Budget & defunding discussions

Deck 13 (Healthcare) → Healthcare systems comparison

Deck 14 (Mental Health) → Wellness & social-emotional learning

Deck 15 (Finances) → Economics & personal finance

Deck 04 (The Root) → Corporate power & history
Classroom Activities
→ Assign one stat per student to fact-check using the Source Bank

→ Use the comparison charts as discussion starters: "Why does the U.S. rank last here?"

→ Have students write a short editorial response to one callout box

→ Compare data across decks — the themes connect intentionally

→ Use the "Contested areas" flags in the Source Bank to teach the difference between settled and debated science

For educators: The summary stat grids at the top of each section are designed to be extractable — screenshot them, project them, or use them as discussion anchors without needing to display the full deck.

For Community Organizers

Using the Data
in the Field

This library was built with community organizing in mind. The decks are designed to be used — not just read. Here's how to put them to work.

Grant Applications & Proposals
The data tables and stat grids in each deck are formatted for extraction. The source links are all publicly verifiable — which is what grant reviewers and policy advocates need. Cite the stat, link the source, done.
Presentations & Town Halls
Open a deck directly in a browser — it's a presentation on its own. The hero stat, section headers, and callout boxes work as talking points. The charts are visual evidence. Works on any screen.
Social Media & Outreach
Each deck's hero stat and key callouts are designed to be shareable as single images or pull quotes. The full deck URL is the citation — send people there directly.
Policy Conversations
The "Right Now" sections in each deck cover current legislative and political context. That's where you find what's actively being debated, what's at stake, and what the data says about proposed changes.

Fact-Checking

When Something
Surprises You

Good. That's the reaction this library is designed to produce. If a stat lands and you think — that can't be right — here's exactly what to do.

Every deck has a Sources section at the bottom. Each source links directly to the original document: a government database, peer-reviewed paper, or nonpartisan institution report. No aggregators, no secondary summaries, no middlemen.

The Source Bank at sources.html organizes every source from every deck in one place, with a direct ↗ Fact Check link on each entry. If a link 404s — government sites reorganize — search the title plus the institution name. The data still exists.

Contested areas are clearly flagged in the Source Bank at the bottom of each deck's section. Those are places where the science or data is still actively debated. This library does not present contested findings as settled fact. If you find an error or have a better source, the door is open — reach out.

Open the Source Bank →

Get Involved

Want to Help
Build This?

The Convergence Project grows with the community. Whether you are a researcher, developer, educator, or someone who just wants to share the work — there is a place for you.

Visit the Contributor Space →
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