The Opportunity Project Demo Week 2020

Join us to kick off The Opportunity Project Demo Week! Day 1 will focus on showcasing innovative products to defend and restore the natural environment, lifting up voices from indigenous communities, and featuring perspectives from student innovators.

The Census Bureau is more than just data. In this welcome keynote, hear from Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham about the Census Bureau’s leading role in advancing the federal statistical community’s  collaboration efforts via The Opportunity Project, exploring industry engagement, and how other agencies can join us in collaborating to improve federal data quality, usability, and how we share it with the public.

As stewards of the Earth, we have an obligation to limit our negative impacts on the ecosystems we inhabit. Unfortunately, we are often unaware of how our decisions and actions affect the planet. In this session, hear from environmental advocates as they describe how public information tools can foster environmental stewardship, and from technologists as they share the digital products they've created to reduce ocean plastic pollution and help the public understand the effects of transportation emissions.  Featuring lightning talks by Esri, IBM, Open AQ, and more companies and university teams.

Co-hosted by NOAA

The systems that connect society and our natural environment pose challenges that technology may help us to solve.  Recycling is a billion dollar industry that provides millions of jobs to American workers, yet there is great untapped potential for connecting companies and manufacturers that need access to raw and recycled materials. Farmers and ranchers are part of a vital infrastructure that powers America, but are often at the mercy of environmental and economic conditions out of their control. Connecting people to data and information is key to solving both of these challenges.  Join this session to hear about new products built through TOP sprints by SAP, Eco Bloc, Mapbox, Newlight Technologies, and more companies and university teams.

On the Ground Community Reactions: Lightning Round Discussion

Following these demos, join our community experts from conservation and advocacy groups, city government, universities, policy centers and more to discuss how we can translate these incredible tools to reach those that need them the most. In this lightning round, co-creators of the products will reflect on how they can be deployed in their communities, the potential impact and benefit to targeted end users, and next steps ahead. Featuring speakers from The Ocean Conservancy, City of Phoenix, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Universities and more. 

Step into a virtual “science fair” and participate in live technology demos with teams from The Opportunity Project’s 2020 sprints on natural environment challenges.  Ask questions and connect directly with the teams who built these tools. Featuring 14 total products.

What inspires students to use their tech skills for social good? What are the biggest barriers to pursuing a career in civic technology, and do higher education institutions have an obligation to address them? Join us to hear from Harvard, George Mason and Villanova students who participated in the inaugural TOP University Sprint  through a panel moderated by Andreen Soley, Director of New America’s Public Interest Technology University Network.

An intimate discussion with inspiring and dynamic leaders from tribal communities on their needs during exceptionally challenging times, the  work currently being done by tribal organizations,  and the most effective and appropriate ways to create external partnerships that ultimately put native communities’ well-being at the center of it all.  Tune in for a rare opportunity to hear from our native leaders, and the wisdom, concerns and suggestions they have to share. Featuring speakers from Choctaw Nation, Tsuut'ina Nation, and Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

On Day 2, we’ll recap highlights from day 1, showcase more than 20 new products focusing on the built environment and civics education, and open our playbook to share what we’ve learned from 5 years of TOP.   Don’t miss the opening keynote to hear about HUD’s vision for economic empowerment, partnership with the tech industry, and a vision for leadership and self-actualization in achieving our goals.

The American dream means we can all achieve economic success and growth for our families - but what is the role of technology in ensuring that dream is available to everyone?  This year, we took on two challenges with that question at their core: enabling families to lift themselves up and achieve economic self-sufficiency - building on the groundbreaking Envision Center model championed by HUD, and helping resettled refugees to thrive in the new communities they now call home. Hear from 6 teams who took on these challenges about the solutions they created to support families nationwide, and what they learned in the process by hearing from refugees and families themselves. Featuring speakers from Julius Education, OPS 1, Mapbox & Graphicacy, Georgetown University, SAS, USA Hello, and more. 

Co-hosted by Orange Sparkle Ball

The health of rural communities and access to services, infrastructure, and data is critical to implementing solutions that tackle economic, environmental and human health challenges. In this session, technologists and community leaders come together to showcase creative solutions that help the American public understand the challenges, gaps and opportunities to help facilitate sustainable rural economic development and track federal financial assistance to local communities  in response to emergencies and disasters.  Featuring speakers from the White House Office of Management and Budget, Center on Rural Innovation, Citi Ventures, Urban Footprint, Alteryx, Baruch College, Syracuse University, and Columbia University. 

Translating Tools to Change: Community Reactions and End User Discussions

After hearing about these new products, are you curious to know how these tools will ultimately get into the hands of end users?  Join a group of brilliant community and subject matter experts , each from distinct communities across the country, and hear their reactions to the tools presented and reflections on how they will translate to real change and impact. Featuring speakers from the National Indian Gaming Association, Pew Trusts, HUD, and Refugee Congress. 

This session is a must-attend for anyone who came into the government or tech space to promote democracy and civic participation.  Civics education is at a crossroads: In 2014, less than 25% of 8th graders scored proficient on the National Civics Exam, and in 2018, only 9 states required year-long US government courses. This fall, the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance (F) took on the challenge of reimagining civics education through a sprint to develop data-driven digital tools. Groundbreaking not only in the subject matter, but also as the pilot of TOP’s new open source toolkit - TOPx. Hear from Jim Richardson, Director of F on data transparency and usability, and from tech teams from Syracuse iConsult and Suffolk University about the products they developed. Then, join us for a fireside chat with the State team on their experience using TOPx, a newly launched toolkit that allows federal agencies to leverage the TOP model and resources to facilitate sprints on flexible timelines and topics. If you’re an edtech company, a teacher, student, education advocacy organization, or a federal agency looking for new innovation strategies - this session is for you!

Step into a virtual “science fair” and participate in live technology demos with teams from The Opportunity Project’s 2020 sprints on built environment challenges.  Ask questions and connect directly with the teams who built these tools. Featuring 13+ products.

It’s been 5 years since the launch of TOP:  What have we learned? As we cross the finish line of our 12th sprint cycle, with nearly 150 products completed, we’re realizing more than ever what TOP is really about: Changing the way government employees think about collaboration and innovating with data. Changing the way the public thinks about the government’s capacity to support them.  Improving data quality by opening up conversations with end users. And so much more. In this transparent conversation with some of our most respected innovation colleagues, we’ll dig into the lasting impacts of TOP and other programs, the remaining challenges of sustaining these efforts, and what new innovation leaders and career civil servants should take away.  Featuring speakers from 10x, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Partnership for Public Service and The Opportunity Project.

In our closing keynote for Day 2, hear from Census Bureau Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer Ron Jarmin about how the Bureau has led innovation through its history, the mission ahead for the data community, and how the unknown future of technology will shape the Censuses of 2030 and beyond.  

Whether you grab a coffee or a cocktail, join us after a full day of panels to connect and meet attendees. Post and share your favorite moments from the day as you “bar hop” across chatrooms. We’ll send you a media kit to get you started!

*RSVPs not accepted through Emamo, by invitation only*

In this workshop, tech teams are invited to connect with product mentors, tech advisors, and industry experts on how to advance your TOP products, bring them to market, and make an impact with your work. A diverse group of experts from venture capital, government and civic tech organizations, incubators, and more will connect 1:1 with tech teams through tailored “speed mentoring” sessions.  This is a specially curated workshop by invitation only.

After 2 packed afternoons of keynotes, lightning talks, and live demos on everything from stewarding our planet to putting the civics back in civic tech, Day 3 will focus on enabling our community to learn and grow.  

Don’t miss the opening keynote by Aden Van Noppen, the Executive Director of Mobius, that will captivate and ground us.  With the significant influence that technology has over our lives, it is more important than ever to prioritize human wellbeing and examine technology’s role in fostering or impairing our own individual and collective  balance and health. Fueled by a deep passion to serve, Aden was a Senior Advisor to the US Chief Technology Officer at the White House, and was also the Co-Founder of The Opportunity Project. As Demo Week looks to the future on Day 3, how will we apply  what we’ve learned to serve more holistically with technology? Join us for an opportunity to learn about what work has been done to strengthen a spiritually healthy relationship with tech within organizations and imagine what is possible for the future. Featuring a live collective visualization. 

When WWII veterans served, they made up 11% of the US population… today, in the midst of our longest running conflicts, it’s less than 1%. What burden has that placed on our vets, especially when many are not truly heard about what they’ve seen and experienced? With an average 22 veterans lost by suicide per day, there is clearly work to do, and today’s tech and services may not be cutting it.  Hear from writer, veteran, advocate, designer, and general truth speaker Ben Sledge about his story and the conversations we need to have.  Featuring a TED-style talk by Ben and a fireside chat between veterans about their collective experiences and how technology and The Opportunity Project community can support.

Spotify serves you up the weekly discover playlist of your dreams, Netflix is in your head about exactly what you want to watch… how do all these tools in our pocket curate the perfect (and sometimes not so perfect) information for us?  Join us to learn from industries trailblazing data curation to understand what it is, why it’s important, and how curating federal data can help the nation.  Warning: this is NOT a panel with federal agency CDOs!  Prepare for enlightening and novel thoughts from the data leaders you don’t hear about all the time.  We’ll also feature the Data Curation Hub, TOP’s answer to what we do about curating federal open data for end users. Featuring speakers from Redfin, SAP, and more. 

Co-hosted by Georgetown University Beeck Center for Social Impact & CivStart.

The Opportunity Project partners with federal agencies to identify and solve national challenges. But state and local governments are often even closer to community needs, so how can the TOP model be applied? State and local leaders:  join Georgetown’s Beeck Center to learn about their work taking TOP to cities, and participate in a workshop to brainstorm challenges, partners, and how you can take this model to your own local community . Technologists, join to hear from accelerator CivStart about best practices for building solutions that serve local governments and their communities.

*Attendance capped at 75, registration required

The Opportunity Project is for everyone - and this year we’re opening our playbook to ensure any federal, state, local or tribal government can adopt the model to catalyze innovative tech and put open data to work.  Join one of two hands-on sessions to learn how you can adapt TOP for your own goals, and receive guidance and feedback from The Opportunity Project team.

Thinking about how your agency can address mission critical challenges by engaging the private and social sectors? Not sure how to engage the public to utilize your open data resources?  After 5 years of TOP, we’re opening up our playbook through TOPx, an adaptable toolkit that enables federal agencies to facilitate their own virtual technology development sprints. Join us to get an inside look at the toolkit and learn about using the TOP model to transform federal open data into digital tools aligned with key national challenges and agencies mission. Then brainstorm with our team and peers on how you can make this work at your own agency.

Interested in learning a new skill or two? Join us for a workshop that will help you walk away with tangible skills you can bring back to your work or team. This intro level workshop follows the belief that tech and design are for EVERYONE!

Co-hosted by DotGov Design / AIGA

How can government adopt design methodologies to become more efficient, modern, and user-friendly?  This workshop will cover basic methods of human centered design, including topics like user research, ideation, and storytelling, and showcase how these methods can be applied within government to improve the way we work. This workshop is for anyone working inside, with, or for government agencies at the federal, state, local, or tribal levels, or anyone interested in applying design to civic tech!

Interested in learning a new skill or two? Join us for a workshop that will help you walk away with tangible skills you can bring back to your work or team. This intro level workshop follows the belief that tech and design are for EVERYONE!

Co-hosted by Census Academy + Mapbox

Have you ever wondered how to utilize open data but weren't sure where to begin? Do you feel like you don't have the skills to be a "data person"? We're here to tell you that data is for everyone, and help you build the skills and confidence to believe it!  This workshop will cover intro level skills in finding and using open data, and will help demystify terms, processes, and even tools that help you understand data. Attendees will use TOP's Data Curation Hub to find data sources relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, and  walk away with a tangible skill that can help you understand how to use and pull insights from open data.

The last session of Demo Week is your chance to meet COIL, the organizers of Demo Week!  Through a quick toast and sendoff, we’ll introduce the team behind TOP and our larger innovation office, Census Open Innovation Labs.  Meet the team, hear brief closing thoughts and where we go from here, and join in an open Q&A with the team.