We would like to present you with some take-aways from a few of our staff who had the pleasure of attending the CKX Summit this past November.
We look forward to seeing how the energy from the Summit will carry forward in our work and collaborations!
How Open Data leads to Engaged CitizensBy Natalie Colaiacovo |
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Last week’s Community Knowledge Exchange (CKX) summit allowed for many opportunities to think and rethink how data and information can contribute to the development of healthy, vibrant communities. “Big data” is frequently floated as the final solution to a city’s problems, allowing for increased responsiveness to issues, and customization of services. Yet, as Don Tapscott highlighted in the conference’s closing keynote address, a city’s ability to acquire data is really only the beginning. Data are just the building blocks; these blocks still need to be put together in the right way to create change. While governments toil away behind the scenes attempting to discern how their mass of data can be used to better serve their constituents, what cities need to realize is that their most important resource isn’t data – it’s their citizens. “Open city” approach shifts power to citizens To promote citizen engagement and develop city services that meet the needs of those actually living in the city, Tapscott proposes the idea of the “open city.” In an open city, governments reveal the information that leads to their decision-making, the police make public the information they know about a crime, the data that leads to decisions about road development, and traffic management is shared. In opening up their data, institutions can also open themselves to new ideas. In sharing information, organizations can in turn share the responsibility of creating services with those using them. Tapscott sums up this phenomenon as “enabling consumers to be producers.” In a time where we’re constantly bombarded with Tweets and updates and alerts, it’s not finding the information that’s the hard part – it’s what we do with it that counts. |
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CKX got me thinking out of the data boxBy Suzanne Schwenger |
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Last week, I attended a great conference focused on community knowledge exchange—called the CKX Summit. It was a very energizing experience, and helped me to think differently about how data can be used to support community change. 5 highlights:
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At CKX impactful storytelling, research, ideas and knowledge that 'sticks'By Alison Stirling |
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What a full few days of deep conversations, exchanges with remarkable people and connections at the CKX conference last week! I’m still processing the experience, notes, tweets and takeaways. My highlights:
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