Creating points of contact between developers and government

Q: What is this?

A: OpenChicago is a way to help faciliate Chicago's bustling open data movement. By associating your GitHub login with the Ward you live in, you'll be able to communicate with other civically- and technically-minded people in your area.

The thought is, we can build more connections citywide through the sum of its parts.

Q: What is GitHub, and do I really need a login?

A: GitHub is a website that helps people collaborate around software code. Yes, if you'd like to use OpenChicago, you'll need a GitHub account (they offer a free one). That said, it is not necessary that you know how to write code. There are many ways to participate in open software development, including submission of bug reports.

Q: Where do I find out more about the open data movement in Chicago?

A: First off, you should familiarize yourself with City of Chicago's data portal. It is a fantastic resource for data that the city releases, and contains tools for you to peruse the datasets without knowing how to code. Secondly, there are a number groups that periodically gather, including the Open Goverment Chicago(-land) meetup.

Q: This site looks familiar. Have I seen it before?

A: Yes, OpenChicago rose from the ashes of Interhoods, a way for designs and developers to associate themselves with the neighborhood they live in. While Interhoods is no longer around, I am very thankful to Interhoods co-creator, Naz Hamid, for allowing us to carry on the idea here.