Episodes

Maps are everywhere throughout our lives. Whether using Google Maps, Yelp, riding the bus, or hiking at a national park, maps can turn data into easily consumable and useful information. However, making and using maps also comes with pitfalls that savv...

Nothing is more critical to people’s lives than water. Local governments across the US usually do such a good job of providing safe, clean water that it’s often overlooked. However, recent high profile incidents in Flint, MI (lead),

Transportation is a key issue for many governments. From transit planning to roads and bridges and autonomous vehicles, transportation affects all residents of communities in one way or another. Using data has long been a critical piece of transportati...

Comparing budget data is no easy task for cities. Categories aren't standardized, budget cycles often don't align, and each city funds its priorities differently according to the governmental structure, age, and size among other factors. However, cities need to be able to compare budget and spending data in order to understand how their spending is affecting their priorities in context. To help Jackson, Mississippi, tackle this problem the GovEx team developed a tool called "Compared to Jackson....

Data science is a hot topic among many cities. But few are doing it right. Understanding the buzzwords, data quality needs, skill sets, and what kinds of government problems lend themselves to data science techniques is challenging. All cities need guidance in how to structure problems, implement data science techniques, and use the results to improve outcomes for residents. With that in mind, GovEx's Director of Analytics Carter Hewgley had a conversation with two leading thinkers and practitio...

As cities work hard to help residents thrive, the neighborhoods they live in are often the front lines of some pretty tough challenges. Simultaneously keeping housing affordable, properties maintained, neighborhoods safe, and businesses open are all efforts that require a robust understanding of how investments and policies shape outcomes across both space and time. Fortunately, experts like Dr. Ken Steif are leading the way. Dr. Steif leads the Master of Urban Spatial Analytics (MUSA) program a...

Data privacy and security have been and continue be a huge conversation in the government data world. What data are sensitive? Do governments need to collect all the data they have? How do governments protect their data and residents once they do collect the data? We explore these questions and more on this week's Data Points. To dive into these topics, we assembled a panel of experts from GovEx and the District of Columbia government. * Rebecca Williams - Senior Advisor at GovEx working with ci...

Data use is exploding across governments not only in the US, but around the world as well. To dive deeper into the international waters, Data Points is hosting a series of discussions focusing on data use outside the US. We'll be talking with practitioners and policy makers from around the world about how data use is changing in their locations and how they relate to changes in the US. -- As the final part in our continuing miniseries looking at government and data outside the US, this week we s...

Data use is exploding across governments not only in the US, but around the world as well. To dive deeper into the international waters, Data Points is hosting a series of discussions focusing on data use outside the US. We'll be talking with practitioners and policy makers from around the world about how data use is changing in their locations and how they relate to changes in the US. -- As part of our continuing miniseries looking at government and data outside the US, this week we sat down wi...

Data use is exploding across governments not only in the US, but around the world as well. To dive deeper into the international waters, Data Points is hosting a series of discussions focusing on data use outside the US. We'll be talking with practitioners and policy makers from around the world about how data use is changing in their locations and how they relate to changes in the US. -- As part of our continuing miniseries looking at government and data outside the US, this week we were lucky ...

Data use is exploding across governments not only in the US, but around the world as well. To dive deeper into the international waters, Data Points is hosting a series of discussions focusing on data use outside the US. We'll be talking with practitioners and policy makers from around the world about how data use is changing in their locations and how they relate to changes in the US. -- Despite our close proximity, the US and Canada are not always sharing our best practices when it comes to da...

It's the final GovEx Data Points podcast of 2016! A time for reflection and celebration of the year that was. So, like our Thanksgiving podcast, we've gathered members of the GovEx "family" around the table (and the microphone) to share their thoughts and ideas about the world of government and data in 2016 and what we can look forward to in 2017. This episode, Eric and Sharon are joined by their colleagues Lena Geraghty, Beth Blauer, Michael Benison, and Katherine Klosek (in original speaking o...

Engaging residents and communities is a key piece of work for city employees. However, many cities struggle to engage one specific community: civic tech enthusiasts. Civic techies often want to help cities use more data, improve technology, and generally make their cities better places to live. But engaging civic tech enthusiasts requires a different mode of engagement than cities typically employ. In this episode, we talk with guest Mark Headd about his recent book that focused on how to best e...

In this episode of Data Points, we explain how the District of Columbia used data to reduce HIV transmissions by 70% in 7 years. It’s a story rife with lessons on how important data is in tackling major public health problems that threaten the lives and well-being of our children, friends, family and neighbors. When District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty took office in 2007, it was estimated that 1 in 20 District residents were HIV positive. Other major cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, New ...

Stuffed with turkey? Avoiding conversations about politics with your family? Trying to build your data skills even though it's a holiday weekend? Well then you are in luck as the GovEx team has options for you. Listen as Sophia Dengo, Sheila Dugan, and Matt Pazoles from the GovEx team join Sharon and Eric to discuss their favorite places to find cool data (and fun) resources. The team also included a few of their favorite resources below for your holiday reading pleasure. Check them out and let ...

The GovEx team attends events around the country (and world if you listened to our IODC recap). One of our favorite events each year is the annual Code for America summit. The summit covers a variety of topics ranging from casual conversations with civic tech leaders to hands-on workshops on how to unlock the power of data in communities. With an exciting slate of sessions, including several led by GovEx staff, the annual summit is a great opportunity to reflect on the state of civic technology ...

At GovEx, we work with cities around the country whose leaders are committed to revitalizing aging neighborhoods, and reversing declining property values. These issues are critical to many cities and strategies to address them must incorporate a strong knowledge of the history of urban spaces, including race and racial dynamics. Recently, GovEx Senior Advisor Katherine Klosek and I sat down for a conversation with Johns Hopkins University professor of history Dr. Nathan Connolly to discuss how c...

Data Science and Open Data has proven to be useful in practically all fields of local government, including education and public school systems. In this episode of Data Points, we talk with Andy Smarick, Visiting Scholar and a Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy. He serves as President of the Maryland State Board of Education and Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Previously, Andy was a senior member of Bellwether Education Partners, where he aut...

The most recent International Open Data Conference (IODC) took place in Madrid, Spain, during the first week of October. GovEx Open Data Director Andrew Nicklin and Senior Implementation Advisors Rebecca Williams and Eric Reese attended the conference and sat down to share their thoughts on the state of open data around the world in this episode. Through the discussion, we try to answer questions like: What was the biggest takeaway from the conference? What's next for open data? How can you get ...

In this episode, we talk with Stephanie Singer, a technologist with diverse career accomplishments as a data strategist, entrepreneur, professor, and elected government official. After she earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics and tenure at a top-ten liberal arts college and worked as a Data Strategist in a small business, she defeated a 36-year incumbent in a citywide race in her first run for public office. As elected City Commissioner on the Philadelphia Board of Elections, she increased transparen...

Transparency in policing has come to national attention in recent years due the exposure of numerous civilian deaths at the hands of police officers across the country. To help improve understanding of police and community interactions, the Police Data Initiative was formally launched by the White House in May 2015. Although the Police Data Initiative is a federal initiative, it seeks to work with state and local governments to improve public safety and relations with police departments. In this...

A phrase often used in our field without much clarity is "data science." This week we try to demystify some buzzwords and explain data science through a discussion with two GovEx staffers who recently attended the Data Science for Social Good conference held in Chicago. GovEx Senior Implementation Advisor Matt Pazoles and Analyst Nick Hadjigeorge attended the conference a few weeks ago and in this episode they shared their thoughts on the highlights and implications of the conference. Through th...

Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the US and has long been known for being data-savvy due its association with companies like Amazon and Microsoft. However, it's not just the private sector that's promoting innovation and data use. The City of Seattle also works hard on incorporating data, being open about its practices, and pushing the envelope on providing better services to residents. This week guest host Matt Raifman and I talked with Candace Faber, Civic Technology Advocate fo...

Gun violence is an issue that plagues many major cities in the US. It is a complex and politically fraught issue, with a variety of causes and strategies to address it. This week, we try to get a better understanding of gun violence in the US through a discussion with Ted Alcorn, Director of Innovation at Everytown for Gun Safety. Originally founded by a group of concerned mayors, Everytown is a nonprofit focused on building a movement of Americans who work together to end gun violence and build...