How might we use data to build local public policy knowledge and civic engagement?
Photo by: Shannon Lo Wallace, http://blacksandblues.com/
Project in a Nutshell
Designed and coordinated a civic innovation event series; collaborated on a data visualization exhibition about Baltimore neighborhood data.
Summary
Better Baltimore was a civic innovation event series crea
ting space for citizens to learn about and discuss change at the local level. It was accompanied by a data visualization exhibition sourced primarily through our local data partner, Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance. The data visualization served to establish a common understanding of neighborhood disparities in Baltimore. All events were free and open to the public.
Better Baltimore events were designed to propel conversations about local action forward, capitalizing on the presence of the new mayoral administration & city council, working to further establish citizen priorities and providing pathways for engagement with local politics. All of the events had a focus on innovation and equity.
Background
These events were planned and executed as part of my year-long civic innovation fellowship with Impact Hub Baltimore, focused on developing a civic innovation strategy. These events were sponsored in part by MICA’s Office of Community Engagement.
Project Team
Smile Indias was the lead graphic designer on the dataviz exhibition, Michelle Geiss, executive director of the Impact Hub Baltimore, served as event collaborator and content editor, Molly Reddy was the primary researcher and strategist for the dataviz exhibition and the lead event planner.
Watch the full video from City Civics 101 here.
At City Civics 101 we opened with a condensed City Civics lesson by City Council Member Kristerfer Burnett and followed up with an amazing panel discussion moderated by Roberto Alejandro of StayUp.News.
Panelists included:
Kristerfer Burnett, Baltimore City Council District 8;
Graham Coreil-Allen, Public Artist and Citizen Artist Baltimore Cultural Organizer;
Christopher Ervin, President & Founder of The Lazarus Rite;
Ms. Shirley Foulks, Cherry Hill community organizer;
Adriana Foster, Community leader and organizer with United Workers.
With over 100 in attendance we closed the night with attendees inviting people to get involved with their causes and compiled what was shared into a resource guide.
In addition to larger night time events we hosted 5 Lunch & Learns with Baltimore City Council members. Here’s Mary Pat Clarke, Council Member for District 8.
