Connect | New York // iM Women Welcome Lunch

Women Leading the Narrative: Data Centers, AI & Community Trust

As AI and data center development accelerates, public understanding has not kept pace. Communities across the U.S. are raising concerns about scale, visibility, and local impact often driven by misinformation and a lack of early engagement.

This session brings together women leaders from digital infrastructure, energy, education, and Women in STEM to contribute directly to a shared conversation on trust, education, and community engagement. Led jointly by Mara Ervin, Eastern U.S. Chair, and Rhea Williams, Western U.S. Chair, the discussion compares regional challenges across the U.S. from dense urban markets to environmentally sensitive or land-constrained regions and how those differences shape community pushback and NIMBY responses.

By creating space for collective dialogue, the session focuses on how women leaders act as trusted translators between complex infrastructure and the public, connecting data centers and AI to education, workforce development, innovation, and long-term local value.

This major session explores:

• How and why community resistance to data centers differs across U.S. regions
• Common drivers of NIMBY opposition and how early education can reduce friction
• The role of women leaders in building trust through listening and transparency
• Connecting digital infrastructure to STEM education and workforce pathways
• Practical engagement strategies that work before projects reach permitting

Attendee participation encouraged.

This session is a women-only event and is by invitation only - if you are interested in attending please email [email protected]