This
week, a local group of community-minded technologists, planners, designers and
civic champions announced it will join the Code for America Brigade by starting
Miami’s local chapter. Code for America seeks to foster and
facilitate innovation in government. Through Brigades, it helps to organize and
support civic hackers locally to use technology to enhance their community.
This local Brigade, Code for Miami, will work with the governments of Miami-Dade County, the city of Miami and surrounding municipalities to build tools and apps to help the community and advocate for open, accessible government data. Code for Miami, headed up by Ernie Hsiung and Rebekah Monson, will participate in the Brigade’s leadership program, which includes monthly trainings, participation in a network of civic and tech leaders, and support from Code for America staff. “We’re helping government be more efficient, more transparent and more responsive to Miamians, and we’re giving Miamians tools to help them understand, communicate, and act on issues they care about,” Rebekah Monson said.
Code for Miami will be working closely with Michael Sarasti, program manager of the Community Information & Outreach Department of Miami-Dade County. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve embarked on with Code for Miami. We know that our mutual commitment to open 311 data and civic app development will encourage more engaged communities in Miami Dade County. Residents will know that their government and a growing tech sector are working together to empower them,”said Sarasti.
Code for Miami’s group of developers, designers, data geeks and idea makers have been meeting every Monday at The LAB Miami in Wynwood and welcomes your involvement. Some of its ongoing projects: Miami Wiki (site), TextMyBusMIA (code), FL Legislature Tracker (demo) (code), iam1of.us (demo) (code) and Dude Where's My Bike? (demo) (code).
More information about the group, projects and how to get involved: CodeforMiami.org