Author: Vivian Chiang
What if the next great inventor, scientist, or innovator is sitting at your local library, their curiosity sparked by a simple yet profound question: What can I do with data?
At Atrium, we're all about humans helping other humans make sense of data, and providing the resources to help people and organizations solve business problems with AI and analytics. We believe that the magic of data and the power of AI isn’t in their complexity or intelligence—it’s in their ability to inspire curiosity, creativity, and connection.... and that often starts with young people!
The spark of curiosity can begin in the unlikeliest of places—like your local library, where kids are checking out their favorite books, gathering for storytime, or simply letting their imaginations run wild. Sometimes, the most transformative stories start right there, in those quiet corners of possibility.
The story I am excited to share is about Data Detectives, a program born from a desire to make AI and data not just accessible but exciting and empowering for kids. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that when you give young minds the tools to explore, they’ll surprise you in ways you never imagined. Kids don’t see a cardboard box, they see an entire space station ready to blast off into the galaxy.
How It All Began: The Creation of Data Detectives
Armed with a passion for teaching and a commitment to giving back, our team set out to create something unique—an initiative that would bring data literacy to life for children aged 5-10.
We wanted to show kids that AI isn’t just a buzzword or a mysterious force behind their screens. It’s something they can engage with, understand, and even have fun with. That’s how Data Detectives came to life: a series of playful, hands-on lessons designed to make data and AI relatable and exciting.
And so, with detective hats on and magnifying glasses in hand, the first group of young Data Detectives set off on their learning adventure.
The Journey: Bringing Data to Life
In partnership with the Brownsburg Public Library in central Indiana, we piloted Data Detectives in 2024, running four sessions that blended storytelling, problem-solving, and hands-on activities.
Pictured: Vivian Chiang (right) with our collaborator Megan McCain (left),
K-12 STEM Enrichment Coordinator, Brownsburg Public Library.
With each session, something magical unfolded. The children’s imaginations lit up as they explored concepts like AI, coding, and data visualization. Alongside them were our passionate volunteers—data professionals by day but big buddies at the event—guiding, encouraging, and sharing their expertise with enthusiasm. Each session became a chapter in their journey, where learning felt like play, and discovery sparked excitement.
Pictured: Kristin Mangan, one of our Lead Strategy Consultants, reading <How to Code a Sandcastle> to the kids.
Our sessions included:
1. AI in Our Phones: The kids discovered how AI recognizes voices and images, connecting the technology to everyday moments like using a smartphone.
Pictured: Tyler Pollard, one of our Lead Analytics Consultants,
explaining how we use AI for voice recognition in our phones.
Pictured: Kristin Mangan, one of our Lead Strategy Consultants,
reading a book about AI.
2. Data Visualization Using Tableau: Armed with colorful charts and graphs, they learned to tell stories with data, uncovering insights and patterns along the way.
Guiding the children on collecting data and creating a bar chart using Tableau (hugs and fist bumps included).
3. Programmatic Thinking: Through playful activities like coding a sandcastle, they grasped foundational coding concepts like loops and sequences.
Pictured: Maddie Fuchs, one of our Data Scientists, reading <How to Code a SandCastle> to the kids.
Pictured: Cary Martin, one of our Analytics Consultants, demonstrating how to use sequences and loops
to program a robot’s movements.
Creative Sandcastles
4. Magic Machine: Their grand finale was building simple AI models, exploring neural networks, and seeing the magic of machine learning come to life.
Pictured: Maddie Neely, one of our data scientists, working with the kids to train an AI model
to identify and distinguish different bug types.
Each session ended with a sense of accomplishment, the kids beaming with pride as they earned their certificates of completion. But the real reward was the spark in their eyes—that unmistakable look of curiosity ignited.
Why We Do This: A Data-Driven Mission to Share Knowledge and Build Community
At Atrium, giving back to our local communities isn’t just something we do—it’s who we are as an organization and a team. And Pledge 1% is a key part of that.
Pictured: Our CO crew in action! (Left) Volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies to help prepare meals.
(Right) Supporting the Transgender Center of the Rockies through volunteer efforts.
Pictured: Our Indy crew teamed up with Home Repairs for Good
to provide home repair support for older homeowners with disabilities.
Pictured: Our Jaipur crew brought the joy of a movie experience to the children at Aashray Care Home in India.
“Pledge 1% is one of the most transformative corporate initiatives in the Salesforce ecosystem,” said Atrium CEO Chris Heineken. “We're proud to have made Pledge 1% a cornerstone of our culture, as it makes our work more meaningful and creates amazing purpose for our team. Our social good initiatives like Data Detectives allow our team members to put their technical expertise to work in their local communities and for our nonprofit customers across the world.”
From the beginning, we’ve believed that education is the key to unlocking potential, especially when it comes to data and AI. We’ve seen firsthand how empowering people with the tools and knowledge to ask the right questions can lead to meaningful and long-term success.
For us, it’s not about flashy promises or quick fixes. It’s about keeping things transparent, understandable, and measurable. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about creating technology; it’s about making sure it can truly make a difference in people’s lives.
This philosophy is at the core of Data Detectives—we’re not selling anything but knowledge! Knowledge is the first step in transforming curiosity into courage, especially when it comes to technology, which young people are engaging with earlier and earlier these days.
By partnering with local libraries, we’re building a bridge between businesses and communities, making data literacy accessible to all. We envision a world in which every child has the tools to ask better questions, solve bigger problems, and embrace the possibilities of technology.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
I hope our story inspires you—whether you're a parent, educator, business leader, or someone who simply wants to make a difference—to explore creative ways to get involved in your community. From supporting local libraries to launching your own initiatives, every effort counts! We'd love for you to join us in empowering the next generation.
Data Detectives Facilitators: (from left to right) Cary Martin, Maddie Neely, Vivian Chiang, Tyler Pollard,
Maddie Fuchs, and Megan McCain
