BetaNYC has long had the proud mission of improving New Yorkers’ lives through civic design, technology, and data. We’re dedicated to making it easier for all New Yorkers to access public information and use NYC Open Data to improve their communities. To paraphrase Justice Louis D. Brandeis, we want to use the broadest light of day to purify government actions and hold decision-makers accountable.
We work to make our government work for the people, by the people, for the digital era.
Over the years, funding from foundations, elected officials, and yourselves has enabled us to continue our work and foster New York City’s public interest technology community. You have joined us for the last twelve years as we celebrated the City’s open data law. We have introduced CUNY students to Civic Technology and Public Interest Technology for the last decade. Most recently, we expanded our team to include new staff and announced our inaugural Associate Board.
As we enter fiscal year 2025, we are honored to receive financial support to continue our digital and data literacy programs from Council Members Carlina Rivera, Eric Dinowitz, Gale A. Brewer, Julie Won, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Keith Powers, and Lincoln Restler.
Our work has made a difference in the lives of Yeni Bautista, Mohammad Khalil, Audrey Leung, and Kinji Donald.
You can read all of their impact statements below.
Here is what they have to say about our work:
City Council Testimonials
“As New York City continues to grow as a beacon for the nation’s tech community, it is critical that New Yorkers have access to opportunities that build skills to meet the challenges of a changing economic landscape. BetaNYC is a nonprofit leader that provides the tools needed to enhance digital and data literacy, and I am proud to support their work.
During the pandemic, BetaNYC created a map of East Village businesses that were open, including their social distancing policies. Recently they helped create a map that shows where 1,000 street trees were planted as part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency project in Community Boards 3 and 6. I look forward to further collaboration in supporting our neighbors and community.“
– Council Member Carlina Rivera
“BetaNYC is a leader in open data and civic technology that enhances transparency and efficiency in government. I’ve had the pleasure of working with BetaNYC on many projects, including building an interactive map of microfulfillment centers in Manhattan, an analysis of wastewater testing during the pandemic, and establishing data science programs in City schools to empower students with the knowledge and tools to address the problems in their communities.“
– Council Member Gale A. Brewer
“I’m honored to help secure City Council funding for BetaNYC year after year, championing their critical work in digital literacy and transparency. In a city as dynamic as ours, it’s essential that everyone has the tools to navigate and engage with NYC’s vast data sets. This empowers our community and ensures that decisions made by elected officials and city agencies are informed and effective.“
– Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez
“BetaNYC’s work in advancing our digital and data literacy in New York City has been instrumental in equipping New Yorkers with the skills they need to thrive in today’s data-driven world. Their commitment to empowering communities to access open data and use technology for the public good has contributed to better informing and connecting our communities.“
– Council Member Lincoln Restler
Former Staff Impact Statements
“I am truly grateful to have worked with BetaNYC. I met wonderful people, explored places I hadn’t seen before, and contributed to the largest open geographic database in the world. I now walk outside appreciating everything that makes up our city and wonder about things like civic design, green spaces, and urban wildlife. I have a newfound hope for NYC’s future because BetaNYC actively works to make it a better place and I saw that every time I was in their meetings and events. I will never forget this experience.“
– Yeni Bautista, BetaNYC Fellowship Alum
“My experience at BetaNYC was pivotal in shaping the professional I am today, especially in my current role at the New York State Office of the State Comptroller. Working on collaborative projects there significantly honed my teamwork and communication skills. Without BetaNYC, I wouldn’t have developed such a strong foundation in modern technology and skill-building tools, which directly contributed to landing my current job. It not only equipped me with technical expertise but also gave me the confidence to tackle real-world data problems and deliver impactful solutions.“
– Mohammad Khalil, BetaNYC Fellowship Alum
“BetaNYC gave me a … breadth of exposure to so many aspects of public interest technology. My experience was educational and informative in ways that I could have never anticipated. The Associates program helped me prepare for my next role… learning Tableau has been really useful, and mentorship on data visualization and design gave me a helpful perspective to my computer science background.“
– Audrey Leung, former Lab Associate: Data Analyst
“BetaNYC was my first internship and it was an invaluable experience that showed me what it’s like to be a part of the working world. They’re very welcoming and made me feel like I was a part of the family even if I’d only be there for a short time. I learned a lot from my time there from Open data to public speaking, my experience with BetaNYC set me up for a successful future and I’m happy I was able to be a part of the team.“
– Kinji Donald, BetaNYC Fellowship Alum
Thank you again to all who have funded us! BetaNYC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization via The Fund for the City of New York’s partner project program.
Header image credits: Grenoble17, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
