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Voice Up Data Use & Transparency

At Voice Up, our mission is simple: we connect people to purpose.

To do this well—and to honor the trust you place in us—we believe in complete openness about how your information is collected, used, and protected.

This page explains our approach in clear language so you always know exactly how your data is handled.

1. Why We Collect Data

Voice Up collects information only to help you grow, strengthen our programs, and understand how people across the world are finding their purpose.

Your data helps us:

  • Personalize your mentoring and internship experience
  • Build tools and resources that better support young adults
  • Understand patterns in wellbeing, purpose, and student needs
  • Conduct ethical research that advances real-world change
  • Improve the Voice Up model so future students benefit

Voice Up is a community of learners and leaders. Your reflections help shape what comes next.

2. What Data We Collect

We collect only the information you choose to share with us, such as:

Personal & Contact Information

  • Name and email
  • Academic major and school (if provided)
  • Country or state (if included in your application)

Purpose & Wellbeing Reflections

  • Responses to Voice Up assessments
  • Two-word identity statements
  • Qualitative reflections and goal statements
  • Mentor session notes (only with your permission)

Program Engagement Data

  • Which tools you used
  • Your participation in mentoring or internships
  • Optional surveys or feedback forms

We do not collect biometric data, geolocation tracking, financial information, or any sensitive medical information.

3. How Your Data Is Used

Unless you tell us otherwise, your data is used in three ethical ways:

A. Program Support (Required Use)

To help us deliver your customized experience—mentoring, purpose guides, training, and resources.

B. De-Identified Research & Improvement (Optional)

To help Voice Up understand student experiences, strengthen our model, and measure outcomes. All personal identifiers are removed before research use.

C. Sharing Insights That Help Others (Optional)

Sometimes your quotes or reflections can inspire or teach others. When we use quotes, they are always anonymized, unless you explicitly request attribution.

Voice Up never uses your data for:

❌ Advertising

❌ Selling to third parties

❌ Commercial profiling

4. Your Choices & Your Rights

You are always in control of your data.

You may request deletion of your data at any time

You may request a copy of the information Voice Up has collected

You may decline any research or optional assessments

Your participation with Voice Up is never dependent on providing optional data

To make a request, email us at:

info@voiceup.life
5. Our Approach to Anonymity & Security

We take great care to protect your information.

De-Identification

Before using data for research or reporting:

  • Names are removed
  • Emails are removed or hashed
  • Locations are generalized (e.g., "Midwest U.S." rather than a city)
  • Quotes are stripped of identifying details

Security Practices

  • Secure, encrypted storage systems
  • Limited staff access
  • Routine audits
  • Ethical data governance policies aligned with NIH and IRB expectations

Voice Up is committed to maintaining the highest standard of integrity, transparency, and respect.

6. How This Data Helps Advance Purpose Research

Voice Up's growing dataset—made up entirely of voluntary reflections from real students and emerging professionals—helps the world better understand:

  • How young people discover purpose
  • What emotional and wellbeing needs they express
  • What barriers and opportunities they face
  • How purpose-centered mentoring shifts confidence and direction

Your contribution strengthens a global body of knowledge that has the potential to shape public health, workforce development, higher education innovation, and leadership training.

7. Optional Research Participation

When you apply to Voice Up, you will see a simple optional checkbox:

I agree that Voice Up may use my de-identified information for research, program evaluation, and publications. I may withdraw at any time.

This ensures transparency and respect for your autonomy.

Full-Day Workshop

Voice Up Data Ethics Mini-Course

Ethical Use of Data in Purpose-Driven Work

Course Overview

A comprehensive full-day workshop (6-7 hours) designed for undergraduate and graduate students, interns, emerging scholars, and community members who want to learn the ethical, responsible, and collaborative use of data.

Built around Voice Up's Five Core Principles:

  • Collaboration – All are welcome
  • Humility – We all have much to learn
  • Precision – All the details matter
  • Patience – We all need forgiveness
  • Empathy – We must understand your why

What You'll Learn

  • Explain ethical data principles in clear, accessible language
  • Recognize the power and responsibility of qualitative data
  • Apply Voice Up's Five Principles to real data scenarios
  • Understand consent, privacy, de-identification, and IRB expectations
  • Distinguish between ethical use, misuse, exploitation, and innovation
  • Develop a personal data ethics commitment statement

7 Learning Modules

1
60 min

The Human Side of Data

2
45 min

Understanding Consent & Transparency

3
60 min

Precision & Protection

4
60 min

Ethical Interpretation

5
60 min

Ethical Innovation

6
60 min

Scenarios & Solutions

7
45 min

Building Your Data Ethics Identity

Deliverables Upon Completion

Certificate of Completion
Personal Data Ethics Statement
Voice Up Ethical Use of Data Handbook
Consent Checklist for Research
Mentor Script for Ethical Conversations
Case Study Packet
Reflection Workbook

Ready to take the interactive course?

8. Contact and Questions

We welcome questions, feedback, or concerns. You can contact us anytime at:

Voice Up believes that purpose grows in safe, honest, respectful environments.
Your trust matters. This page is one of the ways we maintain it.