CodeAcross BTV, Feb. 22

CodeAcross BTV is one of many CodeAcross Vermont events taking place in cities and towns around the state on the weekend of Saturday, February 22, 2014. It's part of a larger network of CodeAcross events happening simultaneously around the world. The day is an opportunity to use open data as a tool to address real-world issues and opportunities in Vermont communities. 'Open data' is data that is openly available for use by third parties, often provided by a government department or agency. Open data can lead to greater transparency, more accountability, citizen participation, innovation, and improved effectiveness and efficiency. The City of Burlington Mayor's Office recently started work on an open data portal. The State of Vermont is also working on its own open data portal. The inaugural Vermont Open Data Summit was hosted by the Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI) this past October, beginning a statewide discussion about open data. CodeAcross BTV is an opportunity to build on this momentum and demonstrate the value of open data in Burlington and Vermont.

Pile in if you're a community member with a passion for improving your communities; a community organizer; a non-profit or mission-driven organization; a journalist or blogger; an urbanist; a civic hacker, developer, designer or maker; an open data advocate; a government official or staff, or come just be you!

CodeAcross BTV will begin with short summaries of potential open data projects, then you can participate in - or hang loose and observe - whatever project is interesting to you! On Saturday, February 22, the event runs from 10am-6pm then continues the next day, Sunday, Feburary 23, from noon-6pm, at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington (235 College Street). It's totally free and you can register here. More info is at codeforbtv.org