The_Message: March 2023

Hello everyone, we present to you a special edition of our monthly newsletter! Read up and be sure to subscribe for future editions. Also, feel free to share your events, announcements, and anything else that’s happening. Take care and see you in April!

Tuesday, March 7, 2023


There are many celebratory milestones this week. Happy Purim to all – Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Open Data Law anniversary! And happy International Women’s Day (in a few hours)!

Due to big events, you’ll find this newsletter edition is a bit shorter than usual — but we’ll be back in full swing in April. Until then, here’s what you need to know:

  • NYC Open Data Week: We kick off in four days! Be sure to get in on the action — view the program and register for events. And stay in touch throughout the week by signing up for festival announcements. Thank you to our partners, and thank you to the session organizers, without whom none of this would be possible.
  • NYC School of Data is just around the corner! Purchase your tickets and join us in-person on March 18. Free childcare and scholarships are available — refer to the registration page for more info. Also, be sure to check out the schedule for a fun-filled list of presentations and workshops. Thank you session organizers and event sponsors Reinvent Albany, ESRI, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and CUNY Law School!  
  • Mapping for Equity on OpenStreetMap (OSM): Our Civic Innovation Fellows have been busy in North Brooklyn, using OpenStreetMap to track public inequities, in partnership with North Brooklyn Parks Alliance and Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez. Here is a summary of what’s been accomplished so far and what to look forward to.
  • Supporting Policy Change with DATA: Zhi created an eye-opening set of visualizations regarding sidewalk sheds, which informed a recent plan announced by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, as well as Council Members Keith Powers, Erik Bottcher and Shaun Abreu. But that’s not all — Zhi also worked with Council Member Eric Dinowitz to launch a new accessible city playgrounds map to illustrate which playgrounds are safe and accessible to people with disabilities. Upon the map’s launch, both Council Member Dinowitz and Zhi were interviewed by Norwood News.   

We hope to see you at NYC Open Data Week and NYC School of Data, take care!

But wait, there’s more!

Read on for recent content picks from our team and community. Share yours for next month’s newsletter.

Upcoming Events 📆 

Mar 8 at 7am Data diversity – The missing link for gender equality in AI?

Mar 8 at 5pm The Importance of Public Participation Fireside Chat

Mar 11 – 18  NYC Open Data Week 2023

Mar 18 at 10am NYC School of Data 

March 24-26 Girls Who Code’s CodeFair

April 4 at 7:30pm Who Did We Name Queens After? with Rebecca Bratspies

Announcements, Job Openings and Opportunities (Submit yours here and see our #Jobs channel in Slack for more posts.) 📢 

Keep in touch with our community! 🛸 

Like this newsletter and what we do? Donate $23 or more to our 2023 campaign and support employment opportunities for our Civic Innovation LabCivic Innovation Fellows and Apprentices to grow with us.

See you next month! Peace, openness and gratitude 🗽