What do the public safety net, private wells, banking locally and saving seeds have in common? All are part of challenges being presented during this weekend’s Hack for Western Mass.
The two-day hackathon, to be held June 1 and 2 in the Integrated Science Building at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is one of more than 90 events around the country that are part of the National Day of Civic Hacking. Community organizers, software developers and designers, entrepreneurs and activists will work together to collaboratively create solutions to challenges presented by local nonprofits and government entities.
Among the challenges already submitted by western Massachusetts organizations are:
- Creating a map that compares the location of people receiving safety net services with U.S. Census data that shows where those services are most needed.
- Creating a database and subsequent map of private wells, which can help reduce the likelihood of and problems associated with groundwater contamination.
- Developing an online library to share information about locally available seeds, with the aim of improving the adaptability of crops and strengthening local food sovereignty.
- Representing visually the resources available through and the benefits of banking locally.
The National Day of Civic Hacking is a project initiated by the White House. According to the national website, the event “will provide citizens an opportunity to do what is most quintessentially American: roll up our sleeves, get involved and work together to improve our society.”
The Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA) and the National Center for Digital Government are both co-sponsors of Hack for Western Mass. Registration for the two-day event is free, but required.
CPPA is the hub for interdisciplinary public policy research, teaching and engagement at UMass Amherst.