elskwid
commented
13 years ago Heroku Contact form filled out on 9/14:
Hack4Reno - Open Data in the Biggest Little City
Hi Heroku! I am part of a small group of civic-minded geeks here in Reno, Nevada that are organizing an Open Data hackathon (http://hack4reno.com) in conjunction with the City of Reno. From October 15th to October 16th we will spend 24 straight hours downtown hacking on city data at the beautiful Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts[1][2].
We want to see the City of Reno embrace data openness, making more of the information they collect available and making that which is available, cleaner and easier to access. We have partnered with them to begin that process. We also want the local creative/technology types to realize that they can use their incredible skills to give back. They can improve their city.
Why Hack4Reno?
- It will demonstrate the value of Open Data and Open Government
- It will serve as a model of engagement and participation for other Nevada cities
- It will foster an open, expansive local government that listens to its people and their needs
- It will connect people and their government through a shared purpose
- It will take Reno one step further down the road to a smarter city and populace
- It will empower citizens to help the city work better
- It will give citizens tools and information to understand the larger context in which they live
- It will show that Reno is full of talented, creative people that love their city
- It will allow people to use their skills for civic good
- It can spark innovation and new business startups
- It will redefine hacking as a constructive term with a beneficial outcome
Leading up to the event, we will have talks that discuss the importance of open technology, powerful tools, open data and increased transparency. We will also conduct classes to teach people how and where to get started with civic hacking. Both tech people and city employees will attend these talks and classes where we will open their minds to what is possible and why they should care.[3] When we're done we will open up the event itself - all the planning that went into it and details about how/why we did what we did.
Now, what about Heroku? We'd love to see Heroku be involved. We don't want money. We want participation! Here are some ideas and great ways to introduce Heroku to the community:
- These projects are going to need a home, Heroku could easily be that home.
- Want to send someone to Reno to speak at an event on tools needed/used for this kind of work?
- Want to send a team? A developer?
- Want to sponsor coffee for the day? an hour? a meal?
- Want to sponsor a prize? (Best use of Heroku, for instance)
We will have a mixer on Friday, October 14th where supporters (like Heroku) will be thanked and asked to discuss their involvement, offerings etc. The event itself will have no booths, no stands, nothing but hacking, hacking and more hacking.
CALL ME!
Don Morrison
(Thanks for reading this…)
[1] http://pioneercenter.com [2] http://pioneercenter.com/7_Gallery/DCP_1793.JPG - ariel view [3] http://hack4reno.com/events/
colinloretz
Reach out to Heroku for involvement then see how they want to participate.