Meetup.com is Down so read here the latest news on Code for NoVA!
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Michelle Koeth
Mar 3, 2014, 12:37:43 PM3/3/14
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Hi everyone,
Looks like the Meetup.com site is down _again_ But, this raises awareness to the urgency that our brigade have a backup communication plan, and in that sense, that we're all registered to receive emails on this Google group. There's some news I'd like to share with everyone, and so that you don't miss the important ones of interest to you, I've headed each section in bold below:
Tentative: This Thursday - 3/6: Special Presentation / Discussion on Civic Open Data Standards
Greg Bloom from Code for DC has some exciting developments around civic open data standards he'd like to share with us, and get from our group some thoughtful insights on how to move forward with regional (D.C./Maryland/NoVA) data standards.
More on his project here:
https://hackpad.com/Open211-Data-Commons-Project-yMfDTnFwo6g
Joe Z & Civic Hacking in High Schools
At last week's meeting, we had a new member Joe Z stop by and ask about how high schools can become more engaged in the civic hacking movement. Joe related to me that his two sons in high school are actively involved with their computer club, and in various programming competitions, but he feels that having his sons (and other techy teens) at the high school work on civic hacking/community service projects in particular is most beneficial to their growth and training.
Joe posed the question: How do you start a civic hacking organization within a high school? The short answer is that there is no answer - this is still a developing area.
Delving a little deeper, my thoughts were that it starts with having a fun project for students to work on, and the community can grow from there. Then the next question is - How do you find the projects? How do you discover the real need that community has for web tech, and plug high-schoolers into that? I suggested taking a look at the community service activities going on in the local community (whether they are organized by a local non-profit, or other community groups) and see how web/mobile tech could help streamline their efforts - local non-profits are trying to reach out to us too - there is an ideation event going on March 12 in DC (http:/dcgenerator.eventbrite.com). There's always reaching out to local government of course, and seeing how volunteer efforts could further government innovators in their web/mobile tech visions. Then, don't forget DRY (dont repeat yourself) - as part of the Code for America network, we can reach out to other municipalities fostering high-school level civic hacking, and discover & try what worked for them. As far as I know, the Code for Maine brigade, and Code for Philly brigade are active in furthering civic hacking in the high-school curriculum/environment. Take a look also at what's happening at the university level - and in just Virginia alone, I read an email from a regular at undergraduate uni hackathons (Stanley) that mentioned these Virginia uni hackathons: TribeHacks @ William and Mary, VTHacks @ Virginia Tech
(albeit, none are in NoVA - but I've asked Stanley to let me know about local NoVA uni hackathons).
Come Visit Code for DC with me tomorrow/ Meet TechLady Hackathon DC organizer Leah:
I'll be at the Code for DC Hacknight I tomorrow (See below, b/c meetup is down): and talking to Leah about joining forces to increase women brigade member numbers in the DC metro region:
Thats it for now! See you all Thursday at our meetup!
-Michelle
Looks like the Meetup.com site is down _again_ But, this raises awareness to the urgency that our brigade have a backup communication plan, and in that sense, that we're all registered to receive emails on this Google group. There's some news I'd like to share with everyone, and so that you don't miss the important ones of interest to you, I've headed each section in bold below:
Tentative: This Thursday - 3/6: Special Presentation / Discussion on Civic Open Data Standards
Greg Bloom from Code for DC has some exciting developments around civic open data standards he'd like to share with us, and get from our group some thoughtful insights on how to move forward with regional (D.C./Maryland/NoVA) data standards.
More on his project here:
https://hackpad.com/Open211-Data-Commons-Project-yMfDTnFwo6g
Joe Z & Civic Hacking in High Schools
At last week's meeting, we had a new member Joe Z stop by and ask about how high schools can become more engaged in the civic hacking movement. Joe related to me that his two sons in high school are actively involved with their computer club, and in various programming competitions, but he feels that having his sons (and other techy teens) at the high school work on civic hacking/community service projects in particular is most beneficial to their growth and training.
Joe posed the question: How do you start a civic hacking organization within a high school? The short answer is that there is no answer - this is still a developing area.
Delving a little deeper, my thoughts were that it starts with having a fun project for students to work on, and the community can grow from there. Then the next question is - How do you find the projects? How do you discover the real need that community has for web tech, and plug high-schoolers into that? I suggested taking a look at the community service activities going on in the local community (whether they are organized by a local non-profit, or other community groups) and see how web/mobile tech could help streamline their efforts - local non-profits are trying to reach out to us too - there is an ideation event going on March 12 in DC (http:/dcgenerator.eventbrite.com). There's always reaching out to local government of course, and seeing how volunteer efforts could further government innovators in their web/mobile tech visions. Then, don't forget DRY (dont repeat yourself) - as part of the Code for America network, we can reach out to other municipalities fostering high-school level civic hacking, and discover & try what worked for them. As far as I know, the Code for Maine brigade, and Code for Philly brigade are active in furthering civic hacking in the high-school curriculum/environment. Take a look also at what's happening at the university level - and in just Virginia alone, I read an email from a regular at undergraduate uni hackathons (Stanley) that mentioned these Virginia uni hackathons: TribeHacks @ William and Mary, VTHacks @ Virginia Tech
(albeit, none are in NoVA - but I've asked Stanley to let me know about local NoVA uni hackathons).
Come Visit Code for DC with me tomorrow/ Meet TechLady Hackathon DC organizer Leah:
I'll be at the Code for DC Hacknight I tomorrow (See below, b/c meetup is down): and talking to Leah about joining forces to increase women brigade member numbers in the DC metro region:
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
at 6:00 PM
 |
OpenGov Hub
1889 F Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20006 |
Thats it for now! See you all Thursday at our meetup!
-Michelle
Jeff Elkner
Mar 3, 2014, 12:44:53 PM3/3/14
to nova-b...@googlegroups.com
Hi Michelle!
Will Joe Z be at our meet up this Thursday? If his kids go to school in Arlington, he and I should be talking immediately. If they don't, I'd still want to exchange ideas with him.--
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Michelle Koeth
Mar 3, 2014, 12:49:38 PM3/3/14
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Hi Jeff,
I'm not sure if Joe Z will be attending this week, and I don't think he's registered on this google group, so there's no way for me to contact him. He is on the meetup group though - if meetup.com comes back online, send him a message and hopefully he'll be able to make it this week - otherwise, that should be the best way to get in touch with Joe. He has listed himself as "Joe Z" on meetup.com.
Cheers
Michelle
I'm not sure if Joe Z will be attending this week, and I don't think he's registered on this google group, so there's no way for me to contact him. He is on the meetup group though - if meetup.com comes back online, send him a message and hopefully he'll be able to make it this week - otherwise, that should be the best way to get in touch with Joe. He has listed himself as "Joe Z" on meetup.com.
Cheers
Michelle
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