How Three Startups Are Using Data to Renew Public Trust In Government

How Three Startups Are Using Data to Renew Public Trust In Government | The Governance Lab @ NYUThe Governance Lab @ NYU:

People feel like governments aren’t working for them.We have limited information, visibility and insight into what’s going on and why. Yes, the data is public information but it’s difficult to access and sift through.
Good news. Things are changing fast. 

Innovative startups are emerging and they are changing the way we access government information at all levels. 

1. OpenGov is a Mountain View-based software company that enables government officials and local residents to easily parse through the city’s financial data. 

2. FiscalNote is a one-year old startup that uses analytical signals and intelligent government data to map legislation and predict an outcome. 

3. Civic Industries is a San Francisco startup that allows citizens and local government officials to easily access data that previously required you to drive down to city hall. Building permits, code enforcements, upcoming government projects and construction data is now openly available within a few clicks.

Please see the original article for details.

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Countable Wants To Make Politics A ‘Continual Conversation’

Countable Wants To Make Politics A ‘Continual Conversation’ | The Governance Lab @ NYUThe Governance Lab @ NYU:

Countable, available for iOS and coming to Android soon, presents a succinct summary of each piece of legislation Congress is considering, along with a short one-sentence argument in favor of the bill or against it. You are then able to vote “yay” or “nay.” When you are logged in through Facebook, Countable can automatically generate a message and send it to your representatives based on your location.

Countable also keeps track of how the lawmakers vote and then informs you how your representatives’ votes stack up to your own, generating “compatibility rankings."

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Testing a Texting Platform That Connects Locals, Representatives and Community Leaders

In Brooklyn, Testing a Texting Platform That Connects Locals, Representatives & Community Leaders | TechPresident:

What if you wanted to start a dialogue about charter schools in your neighborhood? The information hotline wasn't built to handle conversations like that, but a new text message-based platform called HeartGov is.

If you looked at a graph that measured "scale of issue", on one end you would put "reporting", which would be things like pot hole reporting, which 311 handles. On the other end of the spectrum you could have "big ideas", such as "marriage equality" or things that something like change.org handles. In between are medium scale civic ideas that are trackable and tangible.

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Using The Web to Track the Natural World

Yale Environment 360: How Citizen Scientists Are Using The Web to Track the Natural World:

By making the recording and sharing of environmental data easier than ever, web-based technology has fostered the rapid growth of so-called citizen scientists — volunteers who collaborate with scientists to collect and interpret data.

Several projects are discussed.

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How to talk to Your Reps in the District

POPVOX - The Hill 101: Talking to Your Reps in the District - POPVOX.com:

It's almost July 4th and Members of Congress are in their states and districts. Over the next few days, they will attend events, give a few speeches, and talk with constituents before heading back to Washington on July 9 for what may be a flurry of activity leading into the August recess.

While town hall meetings are scheduled in August, much of the important summer legislative action takes place in July. Especially in years with midterm elections, July is an important month for finishing up legislative business. Here's a few tips on getting your message to your reps when they are home in the district this July:

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Videos from the Conference on Volunteering and Service

Hear From the People Who Inspired Thousands at the Conference on Volunteering and Service | Points of Light:

Missed the Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service last week? Thousands of leaders from the nonprofit, corporate and civic sectors came together in Atlanta to celebrate and shape the future of volunteerism.

Now you can feel like you were there. Or if you were fortunate enough to join us, you can relive some special moments. Check out our videos.

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10 Host Sites Chosen to Execute Nationwide ServiceWorks Program

Points of Light Announces 10 Host Sites Chosen to Execute Nationwide ServiceWorks Program | Corporation for National and Community Service:

Points of Light, one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to volunteer service, today announced the 10 organizations chosen to execute its ServiceWorks program. ServiceWorks is a three-year nationwide initiative that will use community engagement and volunteer service to help underserved young adults develop the skills they need to prepare for college and careers.

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Now, all congress people can be reached by email at OpenCongress.org

We finally gave Congress email addresses - Sunlight Foundation Blog:

If you visit a legislator's page on OpenCongress, you'll see an email address in the right-hand sidebar that looks like Sen.Reid@opencongress.org or Rep.Boehner@opencongress.org. You can also email myreps@opencongress.org to email both of your senators and your House representatives at once.

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AllForGood is a public database of volunteer opportunities

About Us | AllForGood:

All for Good is a hub for volunteerism and community service on the Internet, and a service of Points of Light. We envision the site as a meeting place for organizations and individuals, providing a communal platform that allows people to see where change is needed, and makes it easy for them to engage. Powered by the largest online database of volunteer opportunities, All for Good is connecting Americans with nonprofits both large and small.

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Why Helping Others Makes Us Happy

Why Helping Others Makes Us Happy | Case Foundation:

Helping our fellow man has long been seen as an altruistic behavioral model. But it turns out that more selfish motives—pleasing friends, doing what you want—are more successful causes of effective volunteering. Whatever the motive, volunteering improves the health, happiness, and in some cases, the longevity of volunteers

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Making cities smarter through citizen engagement

Making cities smarter through citizen engagement | The Governance Lab @ NYUThe Governance Lab @ NYU:

Vaidehi Shah at Eco-Business: “Rapidly progressing information communications technology (ICT) is giving rise to an almost infinite range of innovations that can be implemented in cities to make them more efficient and better connected. However, in order for technology to yield sustainable solutions, planners must prioritise citizen engagement and strong leadership.

This was the consensus on Tuesday at the World Cities Summit 2014, where representatives from city and national governments, technology firms and private sector organisations gathered in Singapore to discuss strategies and challenges to achieving sustainable cities in the future.

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Web-based tools to facilitate participation in the local civic process

The Civinomics Roadmap: From here to November | Tipping Point:

Stated simply, the goal of the Civinomics site is to provide members with an online “civic tool box”, a selection of web-based tools to facilitate participation in the civic process.

Current features include online workshops and initiatives and the just released new public meetings and agendas listings. There are several other features in the works, to be launched between now and over the summer and early fall to coincide with the November elections.

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A shortage of sock donations at homeless shelters

When Socks Are `More Important Than Food’ | Points of Light:

Socks are among the most needed items at homeless shelters, yet among the least-often donated.

Because of the shortage, the nation’s homeless population is constantly at risk of serious foot disease and, during winter months, in severe danger posed by the cold.

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Serving for effective and efficient adjudication of immigration proceedings

National Service:

CNCS (Corporation for National and Community Service) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), through its Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), are entering into a strategic partnership to increase national service while facilitating the effective and efficient adjudication of immigration proceedings involving certain children who have crossed the border without a parent or legal guardian.

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Connecting with Politicians During Election Season

New Approaches, from Advocacy Associates: Episode 19 - Connecting with Outgoing Politicians:

Host Craig Price calls the Advocacy Hotline to talk to the guru, Stephanie Vance, about how to get keep in the legislators view even in an election year.

This week's question: Should I not bother communicating with legislators until the election is over?

This is an audio podcast.

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The True Value of Employee Volunteerism

The True Value of Employee Volunteerism | Points of Light:

As the economy recovers, we might expect companies to revert back to conventional giving strategies that are easier to coordinate and execute. But in fact the opposite is happening: employee volunteerism is becoming more prevalent. Why? Because it's a mutually beneficial and sustainable option for companies, nonprofit organizations, individual employees and most importantly, those in need.

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Volunteer your technical skills by helping government

Make the World a Better Place: Apply Now. | Code for America:

Are you a developer, designer, researcher or product manager? Do you want to use your skills for good? We are seeking a new cohort of Fellows for our 2015 Fellowship class, committed to discovering new ways that technology can fix some of the problems that our governments face.

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Idealists in Action

Idealists in Action » Blog Archive » Time to say goodbye… and hello!:

Way back in 2006, we started the Idealists in Action blog to share tales and tips about turning good intentions into action with the Idealist community.

In March 2014, we launched the Idealist Network—a platform to help people everywhere connect and take action on any issue that concerns them, locally or globally, online and in person.

Now, we’re devoting our blog entirely to the stories and strategies of the Network—particularly as they relate to Connectors, the volunteers at its heart. And to keep everything in one place, we’re going to start blogging exclusively on the Connector Hub—please come visit us there!

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"My Brother's Keeper" mentoring campaign

National Service:

As President Obama has said, “There are a lot of kids out there who need help, who are getting a lot of negative reinforcement. And is there more that we can do to give them the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them?” The “My Brother’s Keeper” Mentoring Campaign will connect youth and young adults to caring mentors who will not only “give them the sense that their country cares” but will also help them to believe in themselves, aspire to new dreams, and climb the ladders of opportunity that President Obama is committed to creating in every American community.

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Open Government Needs Public Trust

NCDD Community News » Open Government Needs Public Trust:

CA Fwd is attempting to “catalyze a conversation on rebuilding public confidence in government,” and released a roadmap called The Path Toward Trust in April.

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