Some would argue that the biggest NEW idea re: how IT can make a difference in government is aggressive sharing of data with the public.

Some argue otherwise, of course.

To figure out for yourself, you have a chance tomorrow to talk with some of the key folks involved with the DC Data Feeds program, the Innovations Award winner that has been at the forefront of "democratizing data."

Increasing Civic Participation Through Democratization of Data

Date: Thursday, April 15, 2010                            Time: 5:00 p.m.

Location: Ash Center, 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 200N, Cambridge, MA

Designed to increase civic participation, government accountability, and transparency in government practices, the city of Washington, D.C. created an initiative making virtually all current district government operational data available to the public in its raw form rather than in static, edited reports.  

Spearheaded by the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), raw data from multiple D.C. government agencies is housed at the District's Citywide Data Warehouse (CityDW) and supplied via over 320 data feeds to online sites, citizens, and government agencies to increase civic awareness.  In addition, OCTO launched an annual Apps for Democracy contest awarding the best applications that use CityDW data feeds. Its 2008 contest received 47 applications from software developers in 30 days-avoiding an estimated $2.6 million in internal development costs.

The program won the Innovations in American Government Award in 2009.

A light dinner will be served.

About the Speakers

Julia Bezgacheva is a project manager at the Data Transparency and Accountability Program (Citywide Data Warehouse) at D.C.'s Office of the Chief Technology Officer. Her responsibilities include coordination with the District agencies and other stakeholders, participating in developing recommendations, policies, and procedures related to the new practices implemented by the Citywide Data Warehouse, and managing application design and development.

David Strigel joined the District government in the summer of 2004 to lead technology projects for the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). Strigel comes to the District with over 16 years of experience in building Web applications, software, and technologies for companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.  At OCTO, Strigel leads the Citywide Data Warehouse (CityDW) program planning and managing, technology direction and strategy, service development and rollout, purchasing and contract negotiations, training and deployment strategies, IT strategies and solutions, and customer/partner relationship management.

Innovations in Government Seminar Series This event is part of the Innovations in Government Seminar Series, which explores various aspects and approaches to the study and replication of government innovation.  This year-long series seeks to educate and inform the next generation of government innovators. 

All the best,

Jerry 

Hello hard workers --

Having not completely recovered from the "almost but not quite" Butler basketball extravaganza the other night (with proper congratulations to Duke fans for the hard fought victory), I offer a poem (?) that, if you've seen it before, you'll enjoy seeing again, and -- if it's new to you -- could make your evening.

Spell-checkers are sooooo useful... 

After this, of course, it's back to work...

CANDIDATE FOR A PULLET SURPRISE

I have a spelling checker.
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.

Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished inn it's weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a bless sing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o'er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore a veiling checkers
Hour spelling mite decline,
And if we're lacks oar have a laps,
We wood bee maid too wine.

Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know faults with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.

Now spelling does knot phase me,
It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped words fare as hear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should bee proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.

Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays
Such soft wear four pea seas,
And why eye brake in two averse
Buy righting want too pleas.

Jerry Zar, 29 June 1992 

===

Back to work! 

And all the best to you,

Jerry