Reveal Perspective: Civic Engagement as a Public Good

At Reveal, we believe our work is most meaningful when it helps people better understand the systems that shape their lives.  Reveal Perspectives offers a space for our team to reflect on the experiences and values that inform how we approach that work. In this perspective, Taylor Wilson, our Vice President of Applied Statistics and Data Science, shares how a long-standing commitment to volunteerism and civic engagement has shaped both his professional path and his belief in data as a public good.  

Volunteerism and Civic Engagement  

By Taylor J. Wilson  

I’ve been volunteering for as long as I’ve been working. Over time I’ve come to see that choosing where to volunteer is really about understanding what you value. For me, those values are clear: art, history, and civic engagement. They each represent a different way people make sense of the world, and they have guided how I decide to give my time.  

My first meaningful experience with volunteer work started in Williamsburg, Virginia, while I was at the College of William & Mary. I spent time in small local art galleries, helping with whatever they needed. Those spaces showed me how art can shape a community. It gives people a chance to slow down, reflect, and see familiar things from a new perspective. Being part of that work, even in small ways, helped me understand how cultural spaces influence how we think and connect.  

Later, my interest in history grew, and I found myself looking for ways to stay involved in that space too. Today, my volunteer work with the U.S. National Archives builds on that earlier experience. The Archives hold the documents that have shaped the country, but they also serve as a bridge between the past and the public. Helping visitors understand why these records matter has been meaningful for me. It reminds me that history isn’t only something we learn; it’s something we interact with, interpret, and carry with us.  

Civic engagement is the thread that ties these experiences together. It is also what led me to work with the U.S. Census Bureau through Reveal. I’ve always believed that data are a public good. Without reliable data, we can’t make informed decisions or develop policies that truly serve people. Working with the Census Bureau gives me a chance to use my skills to support that belief. I see it as a form of civic engagement, one that aligns with how I approach my professional life.  

However, data are only useful when they are accessible and understandable. Not every organization has the resources to interpret their data effectively. I see it as part of my role, both professionally and as a volunteer, to help people strengthen their understanding of the information they rely on. That perspective is what led me to volunteer with DataKind for several years—first as a data ambassador working with nonprofit organizations on their data challenges, and later as a chapter leader for the Washington, D.C. chapter. I wanted to connect with the people and organizations driving change, help them understand their data, and empower them to use it for good.  

I’ve also learned that none of this work is sustainable without people. No matter what you do with numbers, systems, or ideas, progress depends on individuals who are committed to making it real. Many future leaders are already out there, looking for direction and opportunities to grow. Leadership is something that develops over time and often requires intentional guidance.  

With that in mind, I spent many years working with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership organization in various roles, including as a facilitator helping young people apply leadership concepts to their own lives. I later served as the corporate board vice president, where I worked to secure the support needed to run the organization’s leadership seminar, the flagship event that helps develop these young leaders.  

 What keeps me committed to this work is the belief that people are more empowered when they understand the systems around them. That includes the history of our institutions, the cultural spaces where ideas take shape, and the data that influences public decisions. Volunteering allows me to help others access that understanding. Whether I’m talking about a founding document or explaining the purpose of a survey, the goal is to help people see how these pieces fit together.  

Looking back, volunteering has never felt separate from the rest of my life. It reflects my values and keeps me connected to the questions that matter to me: How do people learn about the world? What tools help them participate in it? And how can I contribute in a way that supports that learning? The organizations I’ve served have shaped my perspective, and they’ve given me a clearer sense of what I hope to give back.