2012 City Partner: Detroit[BETA]
This past February, Code for America’s Detroit Team spent five weeks immersed in Detroit’s political and cultural landscape — developing a network of over 170 individuals, technologists, city staff, foundation officers, non-profit and community group leaders.
Focus Areas
Through interviews and group planning sessions, we have identified several strategic areas to inform the development of future CfA projects including apps, websites and digital solutions for the City of Detroit:
Community Engagement & Increasing Capacity of Community Groups
Detroit’s landscape of engaged and organized citizen groups is impressive. Community leaders and citizens alike are extremely active in the civic space — from volunteerism and direct service provision to independent data analysis — Detroit is rich in DIY spirit. We hope to catalyze and support the existing work of community-based organizations and residents’ ability to capture and visualize neighborhood-level data, meaningfully engage with city government, and meet the needs of Detroiters.
Access to Transportation Information
There is currently no way to track real-time bus arrival and departure time in Detroit. This is a critical need for residents who rely on the bus in Detroit. We are actively working with the Department of Transportation to open up bus information and provide an easy-to-use, accessible interface to get accurate information to riders.
City-owned Property Sales & Information
The City of Detroit currently faces a massive surplus of City-owned property. Currently, it is not easy to understand how to buy property or even know where city-owned property is for sale online. By exploring digital solutions with the City’s Planning and Development Department, we are working toward a more transparent, streamlined and friendly customer experience for city residents and city staff.
Our Partners
We’ve met an amazing number of leaders in Detroit. Here’s an ever-growing list of the partners we will be working with over the next year:
City Leadership & Sponsors
Our primary city contact is Karla Henderson, Planning and Facilities Group Executive in the Office of the Mayor. The Knight Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation have funded Code for America’s work in Detroit.
City of Detroit:
Planning and Development Department
Detroit Department of Transportation
Purchasing Division
Non-Governmental:
Data Driven Detroit
Loveland Technologies
Michigan Community Resources
WDET
CDAD
Knight Foundation
Team Detroit
Meet Alicia Rouault, Matt Hampel and Prashant Singh: Code for America’s Detroit Fellows.
