Beyond Anecdote: Empathy as Data for Bridging and Targeted Universalism

Lived experience is often treated as compelling but anecdotal rather than as real data. This session introduces empathy research and human-centered practices that reposition lived experience as rigorous evidence, helping practitioners understand difference without othering and co-create solutions worth building. Connecting directly to Targeted Universalism, participants will practice listening for understanding, shared meaning-making, and qualitative analysis, and explore how empathy research can strengthen the design of targeted solutions, especially where conventional data is missing or cannot explain itself.