BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:nycsodata26 X-WR-CALDESC:Event Calendar METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:-//Sched.com NYC School of Data 2026//EN X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T130000Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Childcare: Day 1 DESCRIPTION:We have contracted on-site childcare for children under the age of 18. In order to use this service\, you MUST be a ticket-holder\, and you MUST register your child(ren) before March 25 by acquiring a Childcare Ticket. Each child you register requires a ticket registration. There are limited spots available\, so please sign up sooner rather than later!\n\nFor any questions about childcare\, please email us at <\;schoolofdata@beta.nyc >\;\n\n CATEGORIES:CHILDCARE LOCATION:4-203 & 4-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b3e25da95d9c5ad2db430402f7c3d240 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/b3e25da95d9c5ad2db430402f7c3d240 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T130000Z DTEND:20260328T210000Z SUMMARY:Worlds We Carry: What Should We Bring to Space? DESCRIPTION:Worlds We Carry is a participatory mapping project framed through the metaphor of space travel\, asking: if we were to leave Earth\, what would we bring with us? New Yorkers are invited to reflect on the places they would carry into the future by contributing personal stories tied to meaningful locations across NYC. Using NYC Open Data datasets ( including the Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) dataset and the Parks Properties Map )\, the project layers lived experience onto public space data to create a collective map of care\, memory\, and value\, revealing emotional and cultural dimensions often absent from traditional maps.\n \n This activation is located on the Second Floor at CUNY School of Law near the Cafe.\n \n Worlds We Carry is a collaboration between Aurélie Barbier (Space To the People) \; and Anna Zhang \;\n Aurélie Barbier is a city planner and designer using digital mapping to nurture civic imagination. She has led urban planning and data projects for the World Bank and presented visualizations at Data Through Design (DxD) that reveal the poetic potential of data.\n Anna Zhang is an artist and creative technologist exploring our relationship with technology. Currently an artist-in-residence at NEW INC\, her award-winning work has been featured in Forbes and exhibited at the National Museum of American History and Gray Area. CATEGORIES:EXHIBITION LOCATION:2-300 - Cafe\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:07efd622177513851fe8141dfc6f6946 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/07efd622177513851fe8141dfc6f6946 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T130000Z DTEND:20260328T140000Z SUMMARY:Breakfast: Day 1 DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:FOOD LOCATION:2-300 - Cafe\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:d8211eacd11aed19bb25d1d5f3128685 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/d8211eacd11aed19bb25d1d5f3128685 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T140000Z DTEND:20260328T144500Z SUMMARY:Opening Session DESCRIPTION:NYC School of Data opens with a series of powerful keynote addresses from leaders shaping the future of public interest technology in New York City.\n\nState Senator Kristen Gonzalez\, Council Member Carmen De La Rosa\, Tayyab Walker\, Noel Hidalgo\, Martha Norrick\, and Naeema (Nae) Haque will each take the stage to share their vision for how data\, technology\, and community power intersect at this critical moment. Through perspectives spanning government\, advocacy\, and grassroots organizing\, these speakers will ground the day in the realities—and possibilities—of building a more transparent\, equitable\, and accountable city.\n\nTogether\, these keynotes will explore how public interest technology and data can strengthen democracy\, advance digital equity\, and ensure that New York’s technological future is shaped by and for its communities.\n\nThis opening session sets the tone for the day ahead: ambitious\, people-centered\, and rooted in action. CATEGORIES:MAIN STAGE - LIVESTREAM WITH ASL TRANSLATION LOCATION:2-301 - Auditorium\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:09eeb30ad7980bdd03cdc379f655f572 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/09eeb30ad7980bdd03cdc379f655f572 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:Exploring NYC Open Data With AI (Part 1: Civic AI Tools & Open Data MCP) DESCRIPTION:"Large language models like ChatGPT and Claude can now connect directly to NYC Open Data through a tool called Model Context Protocol (MCP)—meaning you can ask questions in plain English and get answers informed by data pulled live from city datasets\, not AI-generated guesses.\n\nThis session is a practical walkthrough of how that works\, and why it matters. We'll start with a live demo of Civic AI Tools (civicaitools.org)\, which lets you compare LLM responses with and without live data access side by side. Then we'll go under the hood\, showing how MCP connects AI tools directly to NYC Open Data's Socrata API—and how you can set up and use these tools yourself in GitHub Codespaces.\n\nUsing NYC 311 service request data as our running example\, we'll show how to go from a plain-English question (""What are the top complaint types in my community district?"") to a trustworthy\, citeable answer—step by step. We'll show how live data access dramatically improves the quality of AI-generated answers—and why critical thinking is still essential when evaluating any LLM output.\n\nBy the end of the session\, you'll be ready to set up and use these tools on your own NYC Open Data questions.\nThis session pairs with Part 2 (12:15–1:15pm)\, where three working journalists will show you how to take the data you've queried and turn it into polished charts and visualizations using the Datawrapper MCP. Each session stands on its own\, but together they cover a complete workflow from question to published chart." CATEGORIES:CLASS OR TRAINING LOCATION:3-301-A/B Combined\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:dc4e3382198f6ec24a54b149b19ab1dd URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/dc4e3382198f6ec24a54b149b19ab1dd END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:Machine-Viewing Gentrification Through Storefront Imagery in NYC DESCRIPTION:This program is an introduction to using image recognition AI in the context of urban planning or analyses of the urban environment. Images can be a rich source of information\, but their use in academic or analytic studies has been limited\, owing either to their size\, their availability or a lack of awareness into how computers "read" them.\n \n This session will focus on a set of storefront photography provided by a New York City-focused storefront database called Live XYZ\, but any similar set of images\, like from Google's Streetview for example\, could be used as well.\n \n Policy Analyst Alexander McQuilkin be presenting a project he undertook to understand gentrification in one Brooklyn neighborhood\, borrowing an A/B signage classification index developed by a pair of CUNY anthropology and linguistic professors. Anyone interested in urban aesthetics and/or machine-learning should attend\, and can expect to come away with new tools for analyzing images and ideas about how we can measure our urban environment. No coding experience necessary. Attendees can bring their laptops to interact with the AI tools live\, or can just take notes and experiment with it later. CATEGORIES:CLASS OR TRAINING LOCATION:2-116\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:92efc9fb354fee8f3fbb8f81fd3b3ba8 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/92efc9fb354fee8f3fbb8f81fd3b3ba8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:Mobility Lightning Talks: Streets in Motion DESCRIPTION:\n\n1) Reading the Streets: What Citi Bike Data Reveals About Our Cities // Patrick Cleary\nDive into publicly available Citi Bike trip data to discover where New Yorkers are traveling by bike. This talk will center around an interactive website that displays Citi Bike trips. We will discuss how it was built and ways it can be used to find insight into bike travel. See how new bike infrastructure such as the First Avenue Tunnel or expanded Queensboro bridge bike path has impacted this method of transportation.\n\n\n2) Bike-Track: A Manhattan Citibike Custom Live Tracker PCB Board // \;David Kaplan\, James Ryan\, Vaibhav Hariani\, and Kristof Jablonowski\nThis presentation by a group of designers and engineers maps every Citi Bike station in Manhattan to a unique RGB LED on a custom PCB Board (~650 LEDs). This board was created for a Data Visualization course at Cooper Union.At the moment\, the board has 3 main modes that can be cycled through via a companion app that we developed.The primary view renders real-time information about every dock and station in the city. Brightness corresponds to the number of bikes (or docks available)\, and color represents station status (red for no bikes\, blue for regular bikes\, green for >\;25% ebikes).The audience will participate by interacting with the app and observing the PCB board.\n\n\n3) Visualizing Citi Bike Data as a Strava-style Heatmap // Danny Yang\nIn this lightning talk\, I’ll share how I built a Strava-style heatmap using my own Citi Bike ride history.The project started as a personal data-viz experiment: exporting my ride records\, estimating likely routes between stations with the Google Maps API\, and rendering them as a heatmap. I’ll briefly cover the data processing\, key design choices\, and what worked (and didn’t) when turning sparse trip data into something that looks and feels like a GPS-based activity map.The full write-up and code are available here: https://yangdanny97.github.io/blog/2026/01/17/citibike-strava-heatmapThis session is for people interested in data visualization\, geospatial data\, or small “data about me” projects. Attendees will spend the time seeing a quick walkthrough of the approach\, example visuals\, and practical lessons they can reuse in their own projects.\n\n\n4) \;Where Tickets Happen: A High-Resolution Geospatial Study of Parking Enforcement in New York City // Michael Forster\nWhat started with a query into a couple of parking tickets led Michael Forster down a rabbit hole of publicly available ticket data. What he thought would be a quick afternoon with a spreadsheet and a few scripts became a year-long exploration into data engineering\, resulting in a database of over 90 million parking tickets issued across 10 years.\nThis lightning talk follows that journey and how he used tools like Postgres\, Kafka\, and ClickHouse to build a pipeline to ingest\, process\, and analyze the data\, plus the long road to geocoding nearly every ticket in NYC.\n\n CATEGORIES:LIGHTNING TALKS LOCATION:3-302\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:6fedd3a2fa32fca950bc2eca392567fd URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/6fedd3a2fa32fca950bc2eca392567fd END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:From Connectivity to Connection\, Transforming Digital Equity Into Action DESCRIPTION:Join Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez and a panel of digital literacy + infrastructure experts to deconstruct the city’s renewed strategy to treat broadband as an essential element of life in the 21st century. \;\n\nWe will move beyond the headlines to examine the architecture of NYC’s digital divide. We’ll explore existing programs and outline new legislative mandates. We’ll explore how the city is attempting to dismantle the "digital redlining" that has left neighborhoods offline for decades.\n\nWhat we’ll cover:\nCitywide Broadband Adoption Plan Legislation: A deep dive into the new legal framework and how the City’s approach to the plan will get New Yorkers online. \;The Big Apple Connect Evolution: How the nation’s largest municipally funded cable and internet program is supporting digital skills training opportunities across the City.The "Middle Mile" & Beyond: Understanding the physical infrastructure—fiber\, poles\, and hubs—needed to support a truly open network.The Civic Tech Call-to-Action: How developers\, mappers\, and advocates can use city data to track progress and hold providers accountable to their service promises.\n CATEGORIES:MAIN STAGE - LIVESTREAM WITH ASL TRANSLATION LOCATION:2-301 - Auditorium\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1aefa16094db0c60743d5bbf75392456 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/1aefa16094db0c60743d5bbf75392456 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:A Sense of Place: Quantifying Urban Ambiance in New York through Social Media Data and Machine Learning DESCRIPTION:A Sense of Place is a research project created by Columbia MPA candidate Jali Packer that explores how New Yorkers experience their neighborhoods and how these experiences can be measured through open data. Drawing upon psychogeography\, digital trace data and machine learning\, the project demonstrates how residents collectively shape the emotional character of the places they inhabit. \n \n This work analyzes millions of geo-tagged Flickr images to capture how people describe and perceive their surroundings through the concept of urban ambiance. These ambiance dimensions include creativity\, liveliness\, quietness\, uniqueness and more. The project then combines this information with demographic\, land-use and personality-trait data at the neighborhood level. Using data visualization and machine learning\, the analysis identifies which factors best predict how a neighborhood feels. \n \n There will be a presentation on the research followed by the chance to engage with the data. Participants will have their own 'maps' that they can fill-in\, to provide their perspective on neighborhoods in New York City. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-205\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:5c43673ef40c0e0525259ac895c9d81b URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/5c43673ef40c0e0525259ac895c9d81b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:Beyond the Thermometer: Mapping Socially Experienced and Empirical Heat in NYC Using 311 Data DESCRIPTION:This panel will present research on measuring the social experience of extreme heat in the context of a rapidly warming New York City. Engaging with one of the NYC Preparedness &\; Recovery Institute’s list of 10 key hazards—Temperature Extremes—our research team uses open datasets (311 service requests\, EMS calls) to capture signals of experienced heat in NYC and compare them to empirical indicators of heat and the NYC Heat Vulnerability Index. By analyzing open source data and using it to enrich existing indicators of heat or heat vulnerability\, we show how neighborhood level “experienced heat” data can be contrasted with “empirical heat\,” identifying neighborhood level gaps for targeted intervention across NYC’s five boroughs. In presenting this data\, we join forces with researchers from CUNY’s School of Public Health (SPH) who are working on a similar (Department of Energy funded) project\, exploring the “bottom up” heat experience of NYC neighborhood residents.\n\nThis session is presented by researchers from NYC CIDI\, CUNY Graduate Center\, Columbia University\, and NYC DOHMH\, with work originating from the NYC Preparedness &\; Recovery Institute's Narrative 2 Numbers (N2N) initiative. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-112\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:96f14ebbaeb06fcf89e4ecfcab2512a6 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/96f14ebbaeb06fcf89e4ecfcab2512a6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:The Past\, Present\, and Future of Open Data Tools DESCRIPTION:With 10 years of School of Data come 10 years of Open Data Tools. Andrew from BetaNYC’s Civic Innovation Lab will present a retrospective of tools presented at School of Data from past to present. Successes and outstanding challenges will be discussed\, with an eye toward making the next generation of Open Data Tools practically useful in the lives of New Yorkers. To the next 10 years! \; CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-119\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:bc25b26b0af28ec51d53a9e108af9d61 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/bc25b26b0af28ec51d53a9e108af9d61 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:What Communities Are Asking For: Student Insights from The People's Money Data DESCRIPTION:On March 27\, 2026\, 45+ undergraduate and graduate students from New York Institute of Technology will participate in the Whole Health Community Datathon — a civic data event organized in partnership with the NYC Civic Engagement Commission. Working in interdisciplinary teams\, students analyzed over 9\,000 community-submitted ideas from NYC's participatory budgeting initiative\, The People's Money\, through the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework.\n\nAt this School of Data session\, those same students will present the two deliverables they produced at the datathon: Data Policy Briefs and Community Insight Visualizations\, which incorporate the often intersecting SDOH domains (Economic Stability\, Education Access\, Healthcare Access\, Neighborhood & Built Environment\, and Social & Community Context). Students will also walk through their ML-assisted methodology and openly acknowledge its limitations\, modeling responsible data practice for a public audience.\n\nThis session is ideal for civic technologists\, open data practitioners\, educators\, community advocates\, and anyone interested in participatory research\, health equity\, or ethical approaches to public data. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e79579dc0b908db9805604f80ced6b68 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/e79579dc0b908db9805604f80ced6b68 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:Blind Date with a Dataset DESCRIPTION:Join Claudia Berger from the NYC Open Data team for this hands-on survey where data users of all types\, from professionals who use data in their day-to-day work to people with a personal interest in data\, can give feedback on NYC Open Data’s documentation. Through activities and small group discussions\, participants will have the chance to assess a variety of documentation around a mystery dataset. The feedback gathered at this session will be used to identify gaps in the current documentation\, such as the data dictionaries and dataset primer pages\, as well as identify areas that could be explained better or where more guidance is needed. Participants will be able to use their experiences working with data to help shape our ongoing work of strengthening resources on Open Data.\n \n If you have used Open Data\, or data in general\, before in any capacity\, your thoughts are welcome! CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:2-109\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4fbc4e1f5b85cf6811b676cba6754032 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/4fbc4e1f5b85cf6811b676cba6754032 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:BLOCK BY BLOCK: Mapping Block Associations in NYC DESCRIPTION:Do you know if your block has an association?\n\n Block associations are hyperlocal nodes of residents who come together to solve problems that face their block. But\, most Community Boards fail to maintain updated lists of block associations or how to join them. This session demonstrates how geocoding NYC's Permitted Event Information dataset (with 95% accuracy using Python) helped create an interactive mapping tool that makes it easier for Central Brooklyn residents to locate active block associations\, discover upcoming block parties\, and connect with community resources.\n\n Working in partnership with the Crown Heights CARE Collective and Bed-Stuy Works Alliance\, this project by community organizer Delaney Connor emerged directly from organizers' expressed need for online accessible block association information. The session will include a live demo of the interactive map and a walkthrough of the geocoding process using NYC Street Centerline data\, and a discussion about how this tool is being used for real organizing work in Central Brooklyn.\n\n Bring your phone or laptop to explore the map during the session. This presentation is for community organizers\, block association leaders\, civic tech practitioners\, NYC residents interested in block-level participation\, or anyone curious about how open data can support hyper-local organizing! CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:3-201\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:377be79c8725c2faaa9ab79bdfeb12f8 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/377be79c8725c2faaa9ab79bdfeb12f8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T150000Z DTEND:20260328T160000Z SUMMARY:Community Data Collection Workshop with the Data Vandals DESCRIPTION:This 1-hour workshop invites participants to ditch spreadsheets and experiment with data as the raw material for provocative public art. After a brief introduction\, Data Vandals will lead a fast-paced crash course on using data for public storytelling: how to turn numbers into conversations using simple visual tactics\, punchy headlines\, and low-fi materials like markers\, tape\, and paper. Participants will spend the first 10 minutes getting introduced to NYC Open Data and seeing quick examples of how numbers can be remixed into slogans\, graphics\, and poster-sized provocations\, then use the next 50 minutes to pair up\, sketch a concept\, create a ‘data poster\,’ share their work\, and respond to live feedback from the group.\n\n The workshop is led by Jen Ray and Jason Forrest - the Data Vandals\, an art and data collective that transforms data into participatory experiences that invite curiosity and conversation. Our projects bring data visualization out of the digital world and into public space\, inviting people to become active participants rather than passive observers. This session is ideal for anyone curious about using civic data in a more playful\, political\, or public-facing way\; no technical skills or software are required. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:1-203\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4bd32785ef9d0135e1e811fff972c894 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/4bd32785ef9d0135e1e811fff972c894 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:Exploring NYC Open Data With AI (Part 2: Making charts with DataWrapper MCP) DESCRIPTION:Let’s Make a Chart with AI! In this session\, we’ll use the Datawrapper MCP to turn data from the NYC Open Data portal into compelling charts and graphs. \;\nIn Part 1\, you learned how to prompt AI tools to reliably pull data from New York City’s Open Data portal using the Open Data MCP. Now\, we'll transform those query results into clear\, effective visualizations. Join three working journalists who will help you:\nIdentify what makes a strong\, effective chartDevelop a clear vision for the story you want your data to tellPrompt an AI tool to generate the chart you have in mindBy the end of the session\, you’ll know how to go from raw public data to a polished visualization using AI.\n\nBring a computer/laptop and/or plan to share a device with a classmate as a pair/ CATEGORIES:CLASS OR TRAINING LOCATION:3-301-A/B Combined\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:3fef7b7696041e8652eb49457542b74c URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/3fef7b7696041e8652eb49457542b74c END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:The Future of the Unhoused: Equity-Aware Forecasts & Interactive Maps of NYC Homelessness DESCRIPTION:Join us for a practical\, data-driven look at the future of homelessness risk in New York City. In this session\, four NYC students (Rohan Ramnarain\, Marilyn Echeverria\, Kevin Guillermo\, and Alice Dong) will present three predictive models that forecast which NYC neighborhoods may face the greatest risk of increased homelessness over the next few years\, and what the signals behind those predictions suggest for prevention and response.\n\n Participants will spend the time in a live\, interactive demo\, exploring how the models work and how outputs can be interpreted\, followed by an open Q&A with the presenters. This event is designed for anyone who cares about homelessness in New York City\, including advocates\, service providers\, policy folks\, community leaders\, researchers\, and residents who want to understand how predictive algorithms can support earlier and more targeted interventions. CATEGORIES:DEMONSTRATION LOCATION:2-119\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:dcbc5db1e95f50ae3711f9befeddb4e1 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/dcbc5db1e95f50ae3711f9befeddb4e1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T173000Z SUMMARY:FloodNet - Flood Data Playground DESCRIPTION:This is a hands-on hackathon/workshop that invites NYC agencies\, community members\, researchers\, and data folks to explore a newly released FloodNet event-based dataset on NYC Open Data. This dataset shares hyperlocal flood observations from FloodNet’s street-level network of ~330 sensors deployed across NYC. Each row represents a measured flood event and includes summary metrics like maximum depth\, onset and drainage rates\, time above depth thresholds\, plus time series data that lets you reconstruct the full flood profile. The data covers both tidal and pluvial flooding\, including a major rainfall event on Oct 30\, 2025 when 125 sensors detected flooding across all five boroughs. \;\n \n We’ll kick off with a short introduction to FloodNet and the dataset\, then move into the hackathon using a Google Colab notebook with example workflows for loading\, visualizing\, and analyzing the data. Participants can work solo or form small groups around shared interests\, and we’ll end with a show-and-tell where volunteers can demo what they built and discuss real-world applications. Example directions could include: summarizing a major flood event\, analyzing how 311 calls relate to measured flood events\, and exploring how flooding impacts at-risk infrastructure\, plus any new use cases teams invent. \;\n \n The session will be moderated by FloodNet Lead Backend Engineer Bea Steers\, Technical Lead Charlie Mydlarz\, and Mark Bauer (Senior Software Developer\, ARUP). Bring a laptop and a curiosity for how open data can support flood response\, mitigation\, and public understanding - whether you’re a GIS/data professional\, an emergency-management or infrastructure practitioner\, a student\, or a flood-impacted New Yorker looking to turn flood data into insight.\n\nWe recently had our dataset added to NYC Open Data: \;https://data.cityofnewyork.us/browse?Data-Collection_Data-Collection=FloodNet+NYC&sortBy=relevance&pageSize=20&page=1\n CATEGORIES:HACKATHON / DATA JAM LOCATION:1-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:8d81fa047577517c85223fb1353bf840 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/8d81fa047577517c85223fb1353bf840 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:Building the Public Interest Tech Workforce DESCRIPTION:As governments and communities increasingly rely on data\, digital services\, and AI\, the need for a strong public interest technology workforce has never been greater. This session explores how cities\, nonprofits\, educators\, and community organizations can create inclusive pathways into civic tech and digital public service careers\, with a focus on expanding access for people historically excluded from the tech sector. We’ll highlight the skills\, partnerships\, and training models needed to grow a diverse pipeline of technologists who can support effective\, equitable digital government in New York. CATEGORIES:MAIN STAGE - LIVESTREAM WITH ASL TRANSLATION LOCATION:2-301 - Auditorium\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:f09263fbd37eda83cc7988d4b03b5960 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/f09263fbd37eda83cc7988d4b03b5960 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:Data for Whom: Exploring Inclusivity in NYC’s Mobility Datasets DESCRIPTION:This session is a participatory talk led by Systematica and Transform Transport on how different people experience walking in NYC\, and how well those experiences are reflected in NYC Open Data. Building on UX Mobility research\, we introduce a user–needs framework that spans physical accessibility\, sensory clarity\, cognitive ease\, perceived safety\, comfort\, and social context\, then ask a core question: which experiences become visible and actionable through open data\, and which remain missing?\n \n Participants will spend the time exploring a simple users–needs–data ontology and joining a short interactive exercise to map their own mobility needs and identify what data would be needed to represent them. We will briefly share a case study of an experience-aware routing system developed in Milan and now being prototyped in NYC\, then close with takeaways on how open data could evolve through new layers\, better combinations\, or proxy indicators. The session is open to all backgrounds and beginners\, and is especially relevant for residents\, community members\, students\, practitioners\, civic technologists\, and city staff interested in walkability and inclusive mobility. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-203\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:92c9480620671c93042d1b5183d7237a URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/92c9480620671c93042d1b5183d7237a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:Empowering local communities through environmental justice data DESCRIPTION:In this session\, developers of the Environmental Justice NYC report and online mapping tool will present their process of data gathering\, organization\, and visualization to empower New Yorkers with information necessary to advocate for and make more decisions about environmental justice in the city. We will also hear from community organizations about their work using such data to support their work developing advocacy tools such as community needs assessments. Come to learn more about data democratization and how it could apply to your local community.\n CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-109\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:f177085f641fd11a1276693c999cf194 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/f177085f641fd11a1276693c999cf194 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:From Data to Policy: How the NYC Council Turns City Data Into Action DESCRIPTION:Join the NYC Council Data Team for an inside look at how open and administrative data drive policymaking at the Council. In this interactive exhibition\, Senior Data Scientist Reese Hirota and Data Scientists Taylor Francisco\, Danylo Orlov\, and Erik Brown will showcase four tools designed for evidence-based decision-making. From tracking citywide trends in domestic violence and evaluating Vision Zero safety interventions to mapping public restroom equity and optimizing fieldwork with StoopLoops\, attendees will see firsthand how raw datasets become transparent tools for the public.\n\n This session is ideal for civic tech enthusiasts\, policy researchers\, and engaged New Yorkers eager to understand the "how" behind city oversight. The event will feature 40 minutes of guided walkthroughs focused on the design and impact of these platforms\, followed by an interactive Q&A. During the session\, participants will have the opportunity to explore the dashboards themselves\, engaging directly with the team to uncover data-driven insights relevant to their own communities.\n\n By bridging the gap between raw information and legislative action\, these projects demonstrate that open data is the essential foundation for a more equitable NYC. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how the Council identifies citywide needs\, tracks outcomes\, and makes the policymaking process more transparent and data-informed. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:3-302\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c0b73b92da23e0edd9fb305bb1ac6439 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/c0b73b92da23e0edd9fb305bb1ac6439 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:Your Community By the Numbers: Intro to Census Data @ School of Data DESCRIPTION:Join Data Dissemination Specialist Joli Golden to learn how to use data.census.gov to access the most current and relevant demographic\, socioeconomic\, and housing statistics about your community. During this presentation\, you will learn about the Decennial Census\, the American Community Survey (ACS) and other Census Bureau programs\, geographies\, and datasets available. Plus\, you will see live demonstrations of the search and navigation features in data.census.gov as well as how to download tables\, create charts and generate thematic maps.\n\nThis training is recommended for all data users. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-202\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:03335ed0fc2d1737461e351071751abc URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/03335ed0fc2d1737461e351071751abc END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:Making AI Make Sense Together: Designing a Critical AI Research Commons with NYC Open Data DESCRIPTION:Artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how cities make decisions\, but most “AI literacy” efforts focus on how to use tools\, not how to question them. This interactive workshop introduces Critical AI Literacy through a community-centered lens\, exploring how public spaces can function as places where people investigate AI together using open data and lived experience.\n\n Facilitated by members of the CUNY Public Interest Technology (PIT) Lab and the Trustworthy\, Intelligent\, and Explainable Robotics (TIER) Lab\, this session will guide participants through a series of hands-on activities grounded in NYC Open Data (e.g.\, housing\, climate\, transit\, and public services). Participants will work in small groups to design engaging\, public-facing activities\, such as games\, walkthroughs\, role-plays\, creative exercises\, or case studies\, that help communities surface AI bias\, question automation\, and understand how data\, power\, and technology intersect in civic life. Participants will also be offered the opportunity to see their ideas come to life in the future at the NYC PIT Pop Up.\n\n This session is ideal for civic technologists\, educators\, librarians\, community organizers\, students\, artists\, and public servants interested in using open data to build critical\, justice-oriented AI literacy in public spaces. No technical background is required. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:2-112\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:cd77637f26888b201dab420ab9cb5557 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/cd77637f26888b201dab420ab9cb5557 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T161500Z DTEND:20260328T171500Z SUMMARY:Revamping the NY Open Government Site to Connect Contributions\, Contracts\, and Lobbying DESCRIPTION:The New York Open Government site nyopengovernment.com developed by The Office of the New York State Attorney General provides and connects data from several New York State agencies\, including data on campaign contributions and expenditures\, lobbyist disclosures\, government contracts\, and registered charities.\n\nIn theory\, this tool allows people to find entities across these datasets. But we're facing challenges in keeping the site relevant and useful (for example\, currently the data on the site is out of date). I'll talk about the current state of the tool and then I'd like to hear from you:\n- do/would you use this tool? What for?\n- what functionality would you want to see in this tool?\n- what datasets are we missing?\n- what similar tools could we learn from?\n- in what ways can we collaborate on developing and maintaining this tool (e.g. as an open source project)?\n\nIf you could use a way to find connections between campaign contributions\, contracts and lobbying\, or you'd like to help build a tool to find such connections\, please join and bring your thoughts to share! CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:1-205\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:778b9f5a730b2852a46338ab55e0c5cd URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/778b9f5a730b2852a46338ab55e0c5cd END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T171500Z DTEND:20260328T181500Z SUMMARY:Lunch - Second Floor DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:FOOD LOCATION:2-300 - Cafe\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:ff4d43e6790bad98dc57906c46e87bbd URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/ff4d43e6790bad98dc57906c46e87bbd END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T171500Z DTEND:20260328T181500Z SUMMARY:Lunch - Third Floor DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:FOOD LOCATION:3-115 and 3-116 - Commons\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:e9ec0bf3cca93bd8ce810441b3399660 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/e9ec0bf3cca93bd8ce810441b3399660 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Open Data for Program Design and Advocacy: Using Air Quality Data to Make School-based Interventions More Successful DESCRIPTION:How might access to specific public and private datasets help nonprofits to target their programming and advocacy work? \n \n We'll explore this question using the work of the Clean Air for Schools Fund as one example\, using the public data set of NYC's air quality and overlaying it with neighborhood-level attribute data\, school performance\, and private air sensors to determine where indoor air quality interventions might be maximally effective. The presentation will be led by Jordan Sucher\, Senior Product Manager at Recidiviz and a public technologist who has used open and not-so-open data for creative ends\; and Jessica Cole\, co-Director of Clean Air for Schools and former leader of U.S. Digital Response and the Aspen Institute's Tech Policy Hub and long-time civic technologist.\n \n A discussion will follow about how to use open data to tailor your own organization's strategy and advocacy and to build demand for other relevant datasets. Notably\, NYC's open data is a powerful tool for both targeting advocacy and informing policy recommendations or other interventions\, and it is often just one element of a larger research process. The currently available data is most effective when paired with other data sources\, whether public\, private\, or self-collected. \n \n This interactive workshop is ideal for data analysts or data scientists who work around policy advocacy\, environmental and otherwise\; nonprofit and policy leaders who want to level up evidence for your work\; and anyone interested in identifying gaps in the NYC open data portal that prevent challenges for policy work\, and ideating ways to work through or around them. CATEGORIES:CLASS OR TRAINING LOCATION:1-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:83af363b11ca1d6cf4af08197594c10e URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/83af363b11ca1d6cf4af08197594c10e END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Civic Tools Lightning Talks: Build\, Demo\, Deploy DESCRIPTION:1) \;Building an MCP Server for AI-Driven Analysis of NYC 311 Data // Nicholas Taub\nThis lightning talk features an MCP server that exposes NYC 311 Call Center data to AI assistants like Claude through tools\, context and resources. The server offers three core tools — Retrieve (hybrid keyword/vector search\, Analyze (aggregation and theme extraction) and Annotate (add record comments). The stack is Python-based using FastMCP\, Supabase for storage and Google's Gemini for text embeddings.\n \n AI & Software Engineer Nicholas Taub will demo the architecture showing how LLMs can infer and relay relevant records between tools. The server's tool descriptions and docstrings provide explicit usage instructions to the LLM - e.g. tool ordering\, query parameters and workflow constraints - enabling the reasoning model to orchestrate tasks with minimal human intervention. Resources are optional supplementary context for more refined inputs.\n \n This session is designed for analysts\, engineers and enthusiasts interested in learning how MCP can enhance their LLM experience.\n\n\n2) \;Civic Engagement for the Digital Age // Devin Neal\, Kris Turkal\nJoin software engineers Devin and Kris for a live demo of Civic\, a mobile app that makes it easy for anyone to find and contact their elected officials at every level of government. We'll walk through the app's core features\, starting with an interactive map that visualizes city council\, state legislative\, and congressional districts together with data on their representatives. Then we’ll showcase the "My Representatives" page which shows your local\, state\, and federal officials based on your location. Attendees will see how Civic pulls together district boundaries\, government directories\, and other open data sources to create a rich view into our government through clean mobile interface.\nThis session is ideal for anyone interested in civic technology\, open government data\, or building data-intensive mobile applications. Whether you're a developer curious about geospatial data\, a policy advocate looking for tools to connect constituents with their representatives\, or simply someone who wants to know who represents you\, you'll walk away with something useful. Attendees are encouraged to download the app and follow along on their own devices during the presentation.\n\n3) \;Engagic: From Council Agenda to Neighborhood Input // Iban Sadowski\nIn 2020 a group of Palo Alto residents tried to hold their city council accountable and improve information accessibility\, by hand. They tracked meetings\, read and summarized agendas\, and organized neighbors to show up and speak. We burned out in 4 months.\nEngagic is the tool that would've saved them. It's an open source platform that automatically tracks council meetings across 100+ US cities\, summarizes agenda items using LLMs\, and surfaces voting records and committee decisions for elected officials. The data is freely available\; the code is on GitHub.\nThis lightning talk will demo engagic using live NYC council data: what a meeting looks like before processing (dozens of attachments\, hundreds of pages) and after (plain-language summaries\, topic filters\, participation links). The talk will also show the deliberation feature\, which lets residents provide structured feedback on legislative items and see where their neighbors stand.\nIdeal for: civic technologists\, journalists covering local government\, librarians\, anyone who's ever tried to figure out what their city council is actually voting on.\n\n4) \;NYC Community Boards Dashboard // Tina Zeng\nThe NYC Community Boards Dashboard (community-boards.nyc) is an interactive tool designed by BetaNYC Associate Board member Tina Zeng to support transparency\, analyses\, and comparative evaluation of Community Boards (CB). It uses CB digital records\, Demographic Reports\, District Needs Assessment to provide an overview of how community boards reflect and respond to their neighborhoods. The dashboard aims to measure civic participation\, discourse quality\, responsiveness\, and accessibility in order to empower residents\, advocates\, researchers\, and policymakers to explore patterns over time and gain insight into equity\, engagement\, and local decision-making. The session will begin with a walkthrough of the dashboard\, then present the development and analysis processes\, including methodological and ethical considerations. Followed by a Q&A and feedback session\, inviting participants to critically engage with the tool\, and explore how similar approaches could be applied to other local institutions (this project was inspired by previous work out of School of Data like citymeetings.nyc).Join if you’re also curious about building with AI from scratch—using natural language processing\, large language models\, and vibe-coding!! CATEGORIES:LIGHTNING TALKS LOCATION:3-301-A/B Combined\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:2d09ba2f16536b16ad47fe4a34fada1d URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/2d09ba2f16536b16ad47fe4a34fada1d END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Housing Lightning Talks: Where We Live DESCRIPTION:1) Housing Equity in New York: A Study of Amenity Access and Housing Premiums // \;Raksha Muralidharan\nNew York City is home to one of the largest real estate markets in the US. While it's no secret that prices vary by the amenities offered by the building or the neighborhood\, the distribution of public and private amenities are unevenly distributed across the city often forcing residents to choose between affordability and convenience. \n\nThe talk explores how access to public and private amenities shapes prices across New York City neighborhoods. The talk delves into the impact of proximity to certain amenities on neighborhood price levels and then explores how premium features offered by buildings cause large variations in rents within an area. Together\, the findings shed light on the relationship between public infrastructure and housing equity in New York City.\n\nIf you're interested in learning more about what drives sales premiums across the city or if you're just curious if you're getting the most bang for your buck as a New Yorker\, this session might be of interest to you! This talk will be presented by Raksha Muralidharan\, a data scientist who enjoys working on open data in her spare time.\n\n2) Houstory: Eliminating the “Zero Data Decision” in NYC Housing // \;LP (Lauren Pan)\, Mel Laskowski\nRenters in NYC often sign leases without knowing the true history of their unit—facing issues like pests\, lack of heat\, or unresponsive landlords only after they move in. LP and Mel will demonstrate their work building Houstory\, a new platform that aggregates data from NYC HPD (Housing Preservation &\; Development) and DOB (Department of Buildings) into a "Unit Score" and verified timeline.\n\n\n3) Introducing Risk Radar NYC: A New Tool for Monitoring Building Safety &\; Landlord Risk // \;Joel Guerrero\nHow can we use open data to ensure our neighbors are safe and landlords are held accountable? Join Joel Guerrero for a showcase of Risk Radar NYC\, a new digital tool that aggregates data on DOB violations\, HPD complaints\, and eviction histories to reveal the true condition of New York City buildings. This project empowers tenants and council members to identify neglected properties and demand adherence to safety and ethical standards.\n\nParticipants will spend this session getting hands-on with the tool. A moderator will provide access to the live app\, guiding the room through its core functionalities and demonstrating how to search for and interpret critical building data. You will learn how to spot "high-risk" properties and use this data to advocate for safer living conditions.\n\nThis presentation is open to everyone but will be particularly valuable for housing advocates\, community organizers\, and tenants. If you are looking to learn more about tenant rights\, building safety\, or how to leverage technology for civic accountability\, this event is for you.\n\n CATEGORIES:LIGHTNING TALKS LOCATION:3-302\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1d4779ba734fac7b357fa82bbdb46ef9 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/1d4779ba734fac7b357fa82bbdb46ef9 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:AI in Government: Opportunities for the Mamdani Administration DESCRIPTION:Over a decade ago\, New York City laid the groundwork for accountability in automated decision-making. We want to ground responsible AI through accountability\, oversight\, and data transparency. The Mamdani administration has the unique opportunity to define how AI will scale across city government. This session will explore how NYC can responsibly use AI to improve service delivery\, support public servants\, and expand access to information while strengthening transparency\, accountability\, and public trust.\n\nImagine:\nHow might AI support data-informed decision-making\, such as by turbocharging existing analytics efforts\, opening up new opportunities for data-informed operational management\, and improving the linkage of siloed datasets?How might AI support frontline workers\, for example\, by automating manual processes and handling paperwork so staff can focus on the public-facing human elements of their jobs?How might AI support accountability efforts\, such as helping departments prepare reports for Council or helping Council Members get a better understanding of operations across the City’s sprawling bureaucracy?\nAttendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how AI can strengthen public service in NYC and how residents\, advocates\, and technologists can help shape the city’s next chapter of AI governance. CATEGORIES:MAIN STAGE - LIVESTREAM WITH ASL TRANSLATION LOCATION:2-301 - Auditorium\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:05d958a697f1369bdcfb98eeba84da3f URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/05d958a697f1369bdcfb98eeba84da3f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Bus Automated Camera Enforcement: What It is\, How It Works\, and Findings from the Data DESCRIPTION:The 2023 NYS Legislature passed a provision in the budget to expand Automated Camera Enforcement\, or ACE. The ACE program is a bus-mounted camera system that issues violations to vehicles occupying bus lanes\, to double parked vehicles along bus routes\, and to vehicles blocking bus stops. The program is administered in partnership between the MTA\, the New York City Department of Finance (DOF) and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT).\n \n The goal of ACE is to make bus service faster and more reliable by keeping bus lanes and bus stops clear. Join Data Science Specialist Rahnuma Tarannum and Bus Technology Analyst Aanchal Hingorani to learn the details about how this program operates and how the open data shows that the program is working! CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-203\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4c292d33f63fc64ec467b6a1607d1209 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/4c292d33f63fc64ec467b6a1607d1209 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:City of Nature\, City of Data: How NYC Parks and the City Nature Challenge Document Nature in the City DESCRIPTION:As we are seeing global biodiversity declines\, it is more important than ever to keep track of biodiversity\, especially in our urban areas. Cities can offer varied habitats that support many different species despite being heavily impacted by humans. Through the efforts of NYC Parks and the power of participatory science during the City Nature Challenge\, we can collect vital data for NYC and engage the public in connecting with nature. Those data can be found in over 50 data sets contributed by NYC Parks to NYC Open Data and on the iNaturalist database\, which is an open data set that anyone can contribute nature observations to. \n \n In this presentation\, we’ll hear from Tina Cuevas\, Natural Areas Outreach Coordinator at NYC Parks\, who will share insights about the kinds of data NYC Parks collects for our city\, and from Kelly O’Donnell\, lead NYC organizer of the City Nature Challenge and Director of Science Forward at Macaulay Honors College\, who will share about how New Yorkers can contribute to our understanding of the city’s biodiversity. For the past 9 years\, New Yorkers have added over 150 thousand observations to NYC’s iNaturalist database during the annual City Nature Challenge. We will discuss how NYC Parks and everyday New Yorkers can contribute to both data collection efforts\, how those data sets inform each other\, and what these data can be used for from both a parks management and education perspective. We welcome anyone who has ever encountered one of these NYC biodiversity data sets\, anyone who has ever spent a little time in the parks enjoying that biodiversity\, and all those interested in learning more. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-112\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:57856770baee64b8cd11402d27bc1c97 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/57856770baee64b8cd11402d27bc1c97 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Dredging For Data: Where the Dataset Ends\, Your Job's Just Beginning! DESCRIPTION:One day last spring\, I (design engineer Josh Sucher) sat in my car in front of the Hamilton Avenue Bridge over the Gowanus Canal\, waiting for the drawbridge to close. That sent me down a yearlong rabbit hole of using open data -- and creating my own -- to determine when the bridge would be opening and closing -- and eventually to build a much more complex data logger project covering every angle of the Gowanus Canal. By combining open datasets\, public APIs\, reverse-engineered private APIs and my own hardware sensors\, I unearthed the joy of becoming not just a consumer but a *producer* of open data\, and I'm excited to walk you through my journey! CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-109\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:224e26ecc3fa376db24476d16e9d6317 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/224e26ecc3fa376db24476d16e9d6317 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Exploring an Independent Perspective on Emergency Response Times DESCRIPTION:The NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO) aims to enhance understanding of New York City’s budget\, public policy\, and economy through independent\, data-driven analysis. In this event\, IBO Budget and Policy Analyst Valerie Gudino will showcase how Open Data can be used to analyze and visualize fiscal years 2014-2024 citywide ambulance response times. Valerie will walk through how emergency response and dispatch data can be leveraged to examine patterns in emergency medical response by borough and citywide. This event is ideal for anyone interested in public safety\, emergency response or data visualization. Valerie will present the report findings and conclude with a Q&A session. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-119\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:9088a107923ec55f2c81453a88e0bc89 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/9088a107923ec55f2c81453a88e0bc89 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Invisible by Design: What NYC Child Welfare Data Reveals and Erases About South Asian Families DESCRIPTION:How can data both illuminate and obscure reality? In this interactive session\, attorney and community advocate Shivani Parikh offers a critical look at NYC’s child welfare datasets\, particularly the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) demographic data and explores how racial aggregation obscures the lived experiences of South Asian American families. Participants will learn how Asian American children appear at key stages of the child welfare system and why the absence of disaggregated South Asian data has real consequences for families navigating investigations\, foster care\, and termination of parental rights proceedings.\n\n This event blends data literacy with community context. Shivani will share insights from her culturally responsive family defense guide\, highlighting how open data can support ethical policymaking\, culturally responsive court reforms\, and Know Your Rights education for immigrant parents. Participants can expect a data-informed presentation followed by a facilitated discussion in which attendees will reflect on how to responsibly interpret child welfare data and advocate for greater transparency.\n\n Ideal for civic technologists\, policymakers\, legal advocates\, researchers\, and community organizers\, this session invites participants to rethink the role of open data in shaping public narratives and policy outcomes. No technical background is required\, just curiosity about how data equity can strengthen accountability and protect families! CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:3-201\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:72b519de1644f50c630189c1a4948a89 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/72b519de1644f50c630189c1a4948a89 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Project FloodNet x CUNY Macaulay Honors College DESCRIPTION:Please join us for a thoughtful\, insightful and much needed conversation on flooding in NYC. Our Data and Society Fellows from CUNY Macaulay Honors College will be discussing their team projects on flood vulnerable communities in NYC. They will be focusing on several flood vulnerable communities and proposing advocacy tool kits. They will also present their plans to leverage NYC 311 complaint data to better understand the health impacts these neighborhoods are experiencing.\n \n These two cohorts will provide a brief overview of their projects followed by a Q&A session led by one of the principal investigators of the FloodNet Project\, Prof. Ricardo Toledo-Crow. If you're a change maker who's passionate about community and looking to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers\, then join us during NYC Open Data Week! \n \n About Project FloodNet - Project FloodNet's mission is to develop tools for real-time urban flood monitoring\, implement these tools to measure flooding in New York City\, and make flood data and monitoring tools available in a manner that is accessible and useful to stakeholders including residents\, community-based organizations\, government agencies\, and researchers. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-202\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4da9abecd0895f21c57d4b7b5b6bf952 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/4da9abecd0895f21c57d4b7b5b6bf952 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:The Case for Low Traffic Neighborhoods in NYC: A Data Informed Panel Discussion DESCRIPTION:This session brings together policy experts\, technologists\, community advocates\, and community leaders to make the case for Low Traffic Neighborhoods (LTNs) in New York City — street design interventions that reduce motor vehicle dominance and create safer\, quieter environments where streets function as social spaces rather than just transport corridors. A briefing on LTNs will set the stage\, followed by an exploration of how NYC Open Data can identify which neighborhoods are most suitable for LTN treatment — examining key indicators including collision rates\, access to alternative transportation\, and community vulnerability. The panel will then discuss what it would take to bring LTNs to NYC at scale\, and how data\, advocacy\, and community voice can work together to make NYC's streets more livable and safe for all residents. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-205\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:fe2ddc09277ee579af1ae332d4b318bf URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/fe2ddc09277ee579af1ae332d4b318bf END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T183000Z DTEND:20260328T193000Z SUMMARY:Making the Invisible Visible: Workshopping a New Open Data Standard for AI Processes DESCRIPTION:AI systems are increasingly being used to make decisions about how our public spaces work. These decision making tools are being used in New York City to prioritize housing assistance\, enforce parking rules\, identify individuals from video for police investigations\, and many other purposes. While many cities have legislation requiring that these systems be transparent\, often this is limited to posting pdfs on a public portal\, with long technical descriptions hampering public understanding\n\n In this workshop\, we aim to present and get feedback from the School of Data Community on the initial draft of "DTPR for AI"\, a new open data standard for describing how these AI systems work that’s designed for members of the public. We will go over how it was developed\, how it works\, and demonstrate a few examples of how NYC algorithms can be made more accessible using DTPR. We will then run a co-design session to gather feedback on how this open-source project can be improved with the group assembled. This workshop is an opportunity to contribute to the open-source project and participate in its emerging community of users and contributors.\n\n This workshop was made possible by support from the U.S. National Science Foundation. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:2-116\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:bd7f0bda758969fd75c33b2b50e03cf3 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/bd7f0bda758969fd75c33b2b50e03cf3 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:How has 10 years of civic engagement through open data changed New York? DESCRIPTION:Ten years ago\, "Open Data" was a niche buzzword for enthusiasts\; today\, it is the nervous system of New York City’s digital infrastructure. \;\n\nThis fireside chat between Open Data Week founders and government officials will examine how civic engagement\, both inside and outside government\, has fostered a culture of accountability in government operations and equipped civil society with the tools to demand equity.\n\nJoin us as we discuss:\nThe Shift: From Compliance to Collaboration. Explore how agencies have evolved from simply publishing data to using public data as a collaborative tool for operational efficiency.The Advocacy Loop: Data as a Lever. We’ll discuss real-world case studies of dialogue in action and how collaborations pushed through transformative engagements to shape the future.Future-Proofing the Next Decade of Civic Tech. As we look at new technologies\, how do we frame our existing collaborations as best practices for the future? How do we make sure that the future is better than where we started? CATEGORIES:MAIN STAGE - LIVESTREAM WITH ASL TRANSLATION LOCATION:2-301 - Auditorium\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:39301762ff47a944550e792a871542a4 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/39301762ff47a944550e792a871542a4 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:A Better Billion: The Math\, the Map\, and the Methods for Expanding Transit and Housing Affordability in New York City DESCRIPTION:How can $1 billion reshape New York City’s future? At a time when affordability dominates public debate\, how that money is spent matters. Instead of funding short-term fixes\, what if $1 billion were invested in long-term solutions: expanding subway access and unlocking housing growth across the city?\n \n Join us for a presentation of “A Better Billion: Expanding Transit and Housing for a More Affordable New York\,” a new planning and vision report from the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management’s Transportation and Land Use Group. The report outlines a data-driven strategy to plan for subway expansion while leveraging the City of Yes zoning amendments to support housing production near transit expansion.\n \n Franklin Tang\, lead author of the report\, will walk through the core methodologies\, cost assumptions\, housing capacity estimates and mapping techniques behind the proposal. He will also discuss how the team translated technical analysis into a compelling visual and narrative product designed to inform public debate. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-203\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c0c85a70e3bd60be21f98328fce663c2 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/c0c85a70e3bd60be21f98328fce663c2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:ACE and the Race to Class: Improving Bus Speeds for CUNY Students DESCRIPTION:Join us for an eye-opening presentation on how NYC's bus lane enforcement affects your daily commute to class. In "ACE and the Race to Class\," data analysts Furkan Ay\, Maida Kucevic\, and Efe Aslanertik will present a comprehensive study examining the impact of Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) cameras on MTA bus speeds across New York City\, with special emphasis on routes serving CUNY campuses. Using machine learning analysis of over 330 bus routes and comparing speeds from 2015-2019 (pre-ACE) to 2025 (post-ACE)\, this research reveals which routes improved\, which lagged behind\, and what factors determined where cameras were installed. The analysis includes predictive modeling to identify what characteristics made routes eligible for ACE implementation and quantifies the actual speed improvements on routes serving CUNY students.\n \n This presentation is ideal for CUNY students\, urban planning enthusiasts\, data science students\, transit advocates\, and anyone curious about how technology and policy interventions impact daily transportation equity. Attendees will see interactive visualizations\, learn about the methodology behind analyzing large transit datasets\, and discover concrete findings about their own bus routes. Whether you're a data science student interested in real-world applications\, a daily commuter frustrated by slow buses\, or someone passionate about transportation justice\, this session offers actionable insights backed by rigorous analysis. Bring your questions about specific bus routes\, and leave with a deeper understanding of how automated enforcement is reshaping NYC transit and whether it's actually getting you to class on time. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:7a964752ce04141a8c04380fe1591938 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/7a964752ce04141a8c04380fe1591938 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Battery Swapping Hub Spatial Analysis DESCRIPTION:New York City has over 60\,000 delivery workers\, more than half of whom rely on e-bikes—yet the city lacks infrastructure to support this growing mode. Building on NYC’s battery-swapping pilot program\, this presentation shares a data-driven approach to sizing and siting battery-swapping cabinets in neighborhoods throughout the city using publicly available data on deliveries\, restaurants\, and the bike network.\n\nIn this session\, Amy Boncelet of the engineering and advisory firm TYLin will demonstrate how cities can move beyond pilots to plan scalable micromobility infrastructure that reduces fire risk and supports essential delivery workers. While grounded in a New York City case study\, the framework and insights are transferable to cities nationwide. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-205\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:a1cbd1b6e0809694e4a09f545337ff47 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/a1cbd1b6e0809694e4a09f545337ff47 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Building an AI-Powered Knowledge Base for NYC Community Boards DESCRIPTION:For decades\, NYC’s Community Boards have produced thousands of resolutions and hours of discussion at meetings. These resolutions are how community boards take actions like accepting new restaurant or outdoor cafe applications\, communicate with city agencies and elected officials\, and state their stances on issues. Yet\, almost none of it is easily searchable\, navigable\, or used by the community board members shaping local policy.\n \n In this session\, Tal Roded (Manhattan Community Board 3\, NYCuriosity Writer) and Sarah Sachs (Founder of BlockParty) will walk attendees through how they built an AI-powered knowledge base that ingests Community Board resolutions and meeting transcripts\, making local government memory finally discoverable. They will also have attendees explore the brand-new CB searchable archive.\n\n Anyone interested in learning more about community boards and their effect on NYC neighborhoods\, or interested in using AI tools to build new databases and search tools\, should attend. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-109\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:2eb1c9afe904823d4ff791367dadd9c2 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/2eb1c9afe904823d4ff791367dadd9c2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Does this Building Suck (Energy)? Decoding Building Performance with Open Data DESCRIPTION:What can Energy Performance data tell us about the buildings around us? \;Through analysis and reporting such as LL84 Energy Score cards\, we have a better understanding of how \;more \;sustainable design improves energy performance. \;This demonstration uses \;New York City \;Public \;Open Datasets \;documenting \;Building Energy Efficiency Ratings\, \;which can be seen posted at the entrances \;to large buildings throughout the city. \;\n \n This session is hosted by a professor\, a digital technology specialist\, and a librarian at the New York Institute of Technology\, who will explore the aggregated data sets provided \;through NYC Open Data to \;create Building Performance \;averages by type\, \;borough\, \;and \;square footage. \;Through a series of case studies and \;demonstrations we will learn \;the factors that drive these energy grades\, such as types \;of heating and cooling systems\, evidence of renovation\, building square \;footage \;and relevant fiscal penalties. \;Attendees will be guided through accessing relevant city data\, simplified pivot tables and visualization tools to help them investigate performance of the buildings in their chosen \;local. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:3-301-A/B Combined\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:0b7a6ddee65ac57c2417bc008f1b705f URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/0b7a6ddee65ac57c2417bc008f1b705f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Level Up Your Design and Data Skills: SVA’s New MPS in Data Visualization & Communication DESCRIPTION:Learn more about the School of Visual Arts MPS in Data Visualization & Communication (DV&C)\, a new 10-month graduate program in New York City designed to transform complex data into persuasive visual stories that inform\, connect\, and move people to action.\n\nLed by founder and chair Jason Forrest\, alongside operations directors Courtney Treglia and David Rittenhouse\, this session offers an inside look at the curriculum\, faculty\, and student experience - with a special focus on how open data\, civic technology\, and public-interest storytelling fit into the program.\n\nWe’ll share curriculum examples\, discuss career pathways in data design and civic communication\, and offer practical advice for applying before the April 15 deadline.\n\n CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:3-201\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:170174a89188eed17e079d7d2eb7fee8 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/170174a89188eed17e079d7d2eb7fee8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Open Data for Quality\, Affordable Housing DESCRIPTION:In this series of short talks\, graduate students from the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College MA in Urban Planning will share their ongoing work in defending the quantity and quality of affordable housing in NYC.\n \n Sam O'Hana will share the results of his work creating a tenants' association webpage that uses open data to counter landlord narratives around affordable housing.\n \nTahreem Ashraf will share her thesis project\, Cooling Deserts for Renters\, which examines heat vulnerability within New York City’s housing system\, with a specific focus on renters who face structural barriers to accessing cooling. Using spatial analysis and public health data\, I integrate the NYC Heat Vulnerability Index\, housing tenure and rent burden data\, and information on cooling infrastructure to identify “cooling deserts” across the city. Framed through a data equity lens\, the project analyzes how climate risk intersects with housing inequality\, and aims to produce an interactive\, policy-oriented dashboard that highlights where cooling access is most limited and which renter populations are most at risk.\n\nBryan Kirk will share the results of a group research project and report that investigates the potential to convert distressed NYC apartment buildings into co-ops that sit on community land trusts (CLTs). CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-116\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:154491004ff1e28179a2d9e006973d58 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/154491004ff1e28179a2d9e006973d58 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Spatial Analysis of NYC Open Data using ArcGIS DESCRIPTION:Analyzing spatial data using GIS tools is the most accurate way to find patterns in NYC Open Data that you may not have been able to find any other way. Then\, visualizing the results of that analysis on a map is an effective way for others to experience and understand these patterns in an intuitive way. In this session\, we will go step-by-step\, combining the power of GIS technology with other industry standard statistical tools to find and examine the correlations\, causes\, and effects of spatial phenomena within communities and across the city. We will do this using Esri's free ArcGIS online mapping and analysis tools\, along with Jupyter Notebooks. We will also be demonstrating the use of NYC OTI's new "Locator" set of RESTful web services for street address processing and place locating:  \;https://api-portal.nyc.gov/api-details#api=arcgis-enterprise&operation=Root CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:2-112\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:3c4e58734152eee1d9f7f21033db1f8e URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/3c4e58734152eee1d9f7f21033db1f8e END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:The Council-Agency Data Loop: Sharing\, Tracking\, and Improving City Data DESCRIPTION:The NYC Council Compliance Team will be hosting a session on the practical realities of transparency and the collaborative effort required to maintain public data. We will share our experiences supporting data quality and managing reporting mandates\, while seeking to understand the ground-level challenges faced by agencies and data users. This session is designed for city staff\, researchers\, and any New Yorker interested in the mechanics of the city’s data ecosystem. CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:1-202\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c8583c40105afc586ab641b03655b51a URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/c8583c40105afc586ab641b03655b51a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:Why NYC Needs a Community Data Portal - The Missing Half of NYC's Open Data DESCRIPTION:New York City helped invent the modern Open Data movement - launching one of the first municipal data portals\, passing groundbreaking legislation\, and building a civic ecosystem other cities can only envy. But NYC's portal only tells half the story. It primarily publishes data \;produced by \;City agencies\, while thousands of valuable datasets \;about \;the city - created by universities\, community organizations\, advocacy groups\, and research institutions across all five boroughs - have nowhere to go. That's not just a gap. It's a missed opportunity to unlock what Open Data can be: a shared civic resource \;"About Us\, For Us\, and By Us."\n\n In this session\, \;Joel Natividad \;(datHere) and \;Steven Saylor \;(Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center / University of Pittsburgh) \;will introduce the \;Data Intermediary model \;- a practical approach where a trusted civic partner operates a Data Portal alongside a city's existing infrastructure. Drawing on \;WPRDC's \;real-world experience running a regional data portal and datHere's work building open source portals\, they'll walk through what a Community Data Portal for NYC could look like\, how it would work with (not against) the City's current systems\, and what it would take to make it happen.\n \nThis talk is for anyone invested in NYC's civic data future - open data advocates\, community organizations sitting on valuable datasets with no place to publish them\, City agency staff\, researchers\, journalists\, and civic technologists. \;Come help shape what the next chapter of Open Data looks like for New York City! CATEGORIES:PRESENTATION OR TALK LOCATION:3-302\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:744bff0be27942a2e45f938f35a8dceb URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/744bff0be27942a2e45f938f35a8dceb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T194500Z DTEND:20260328T204500Z SUMMARY:What Should We Build Next? Open Data Challenges for NYC’s Future DESCRIPTION:The Cornell Urban Tech Hub\, in partnership with the City of New York\, launched the Urban Innovation Fellows program to help spur tech innovation in City agencies and to establish a new model for collaboration across government\, academia\, and startups.\n \n The Urban Innovation Fellows will host an interactive workshop inviting participants to identify specific Open Data-related problems and projects (and the skillsets needed to accomplish them) that could be the focus of New York City and State government agencies as part of future iterations of the Fellowship and/or in collaboration with Cornell Tech. The workshop is geared towards residents from across the five boroughs as well as City staff\, the civic tech community\, and individuals from the private sector who are interested in government work and have great ideas and proposals for how to bring them to life. To facilitate the conversation\, the Fellows will draw upon their own agency projects and observations about the need for more collaborative and innovative data approaches that support cross-agency work.\n \n The seven Urban Innovation Fellows work directly within NYC government agencies\, spanning the areas of housing (NYCHA)\, transportation (DOT)\, water (DEP)\, decarbonization (DCAS)\, sanitation (DSNY)\, economic development (EDC)\, and procurement (MOCS). They help agencies implement urban technology solutions that advance City goals\, remove policy roadblocks that prevent scaling successful pilots\, and guide promising tech startups through agency processes. CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP LOCATION:2-119\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:dafcff8f6ae221ce5ef017ca84bda81d URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/dafcff8f6ae221ce5ef017ca84bda81d END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T204500Z DTEND:20260328T211500Z SUMMARY:Refreshments & Toast to 10 Years of Open Data Week & NYC School of Data DESCRIPTION:Join us for a toast and cheers to ten years of Open Data Week & NYC School of Data! Light refreshments to be provided. CATEGORIES:FOOD LOCATION:2-300 - Cafe\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:109f8a3247ec3701b343666670866a41 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/109f8a3247ec3701b343666670866a41 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260328T210000Z DTEND:20260328T230000Z SUMMARY:Happy Hour at Origin Cafe + Wine Bar DESCRIPTION:Join us Happy Hour at Origin Cafe + Wine Bar\, just steps away from CUNY School of Law! \n\nThe first 60 attendees will receive (1) free drink ticket upon entry. Pick up your 21+ wristband from the Info Desk or Registration area beginning during lunchtime.\n\nhttps://maps.app.goo.gl/YPQcM4gqhe374xfj7\n\n CATEGORIES:FOOD LOCATION:2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:2d12733d28d8a937683fa2119f2ea0a6 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/2d12733d28d8a937683fa2119f2ea0a6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T130000Z DTEND:20260329T191500Z SUMMARY:Childcare: Day 2 DESCRIPTION:We have contracted on-site childcare for children under the age of 18. In order to use this service\, you MUST be a ticket-holder\, and you MUST register your child(ren) before March 25 by acquiring a Childcare Ticket. Each child you register requires a ticket registration. There are limited spots available\, so please sign up sooner rather than later!\nFor any questions about childcare\, please email us at <\;schoolofdata@beta.nyc >\;\n\n CATEGORIES:CHILDCARE LOCATION:4-203 & 4-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:57cac28263461f2dba0a99465fb30ef9 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/57cac28263461f2dba0a99465fb30ef9 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T130000Z DTEND:20260329T133000Z SUMMARY:Breakfast: Day 2 DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:FOOD LOCATION:2-300 - Cafe\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:29e43cdefc18cdd3a97a2b2bb5a53f4a URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/29e43cdefc18cdd3a97a2b2bb5a53f4a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T133000Z DTEND:20260329T143000Z SUMMARY:Opening & Session Pitches DESCRIPTION:Morning kickoff session! Opening Day 2\, how the unconference day will work\, and session pitches. CATEGORIES:MAIN STAGE - LIVESTREAM WITH ASL TRANSLATION LOCATION:2-301 - Auditorium\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:3d2b828b8699ee3c79fb88868a5d3b49 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/3d2b828b8699ee3c79fb88868a5d3b49 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T150000Z DTEND:20260329T190000Z SUMMARY:Gamified Hacking: Building cool things\, powered by Open Data DESCRIPTION:Join Major League Hacking and SWARM for open-ended mini hacking sessions. In this beginner-friendly event\, participants will self-guide through stations that introduce you to how using AI tools can assist in helping you traverse and understand Open Data.\n\n CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:1-205\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:1a7760fb69857100e3ab83a8e998938b URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/1a7760fb69857100e3ab83a8e998938b END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T150000Z DTEND:20260329T160000Z SUMMARY:Neighborhood Data Diaries: Storytelling with NYC Open Data DESCRIPTION:This workshop uses NYC Open Data as a starting point for creative\, structured neighborhood storytelling. Participants choose a neighborhood and work with a curated set of datasets to build a community narrative. Guided prompts help participants select meaningful data points and shape them into a short written reflection paired with a minimal visual element like a chart\, map\, or annotated value. \n\nThe facilitated workshop is designed for all skill levels and emphasizes creativity\, clarity\, and the connection between open data and lived experience. CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:2-112\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:97048497166f18d1c0a76d198a8ccf38 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/97048497166f18d1c0a76d198a8ccf38 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T150000Z DTEND:20260329T160000Z SUMMARY:Protecting Your Privacy in the Age of Surveillance DESCRIPTION:In just the first months of 2026\, we’ve seen a dramatic escalation in confrontations between law enforcement and everyday residents. These events are shocking\, and they point to the growing use of surveillant architecture in civic life.\n\nJoin this session to learn what sorts of surveillance tools are in play\, how sensitive information may be put at risk when standing up for our rights or even just going about our days\, and which risks you personally face in doing so. Together we will identify a good starting point for better protecting your personal privacy\, and we will take concrete steps toward a safer future. CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:1-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:ce212e75aa426da631bb0af4e72e10c8 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/ce212e75aa426da631bb0af4e72e10c8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T150000Z DTEND:20260329T160000Z SUMMARY:Unconference Session Block 1 DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:All Classrooms\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:c54bde236c0d780efe8b31e35a84842f URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/c54bde236c0d780efe8b31e35a84842f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T161500Z DTEND:20260329T171500Z SUMMARY:Public / Private tech partnerships in a post-DOGE Government DESCRIPTION:NYC's tech ecosystem is held in many hands. Tech workers as civic volunteers including open source contributors and maintainers bring tools and best practices. Public sector technologists\, and embedded consultants\, hold dependencies and expertise in building digital systems through bureaucracy and nuanced rules. But we know that the NYC public tech ecosystem could be more interconnected\, private\, secure\, and seamless for residents. \n\nThis conversation and brainstorm session is for civil servants\, public interested technologists\, tech consultants and vendors\, and open source enthusiasts to discuss: what are the best practices and processes that have facilitated successful public technology projects? What are some small practices that make for more effective skills and knowledge sharing\, in service of more efficient and sustainable systems? CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:2-112\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:600cd0def76f9773a7a827886b8c8de6 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/600cd0def76f9773a7a827886b8c8de6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T161500Z DTEND:20260329T171500Z SUMMARY:Socialist-Coded: Worker-Owned Tech Startups Transforming New York City DESCRIPTION:This panel will feature presentations from founders of two worker-owned tech startups in NYC that were launched during the pandemic: \n\n• Ken Lewis\, co-Founder of The Drivers Cooperative (https://drivers.coop/)\, a driver-owned rideshare platform cooperative organized to upgrade job quality in the gig economy.\n\n• Troy Walcott\, co-Founder of People's Choice Communications (https://www.peopleschoice.coop/)\, an Internet Service Provider launched by striking cable technicians to bridge the digital divide.\n\nWhile neither cooperative espouses a political ideology\, let alone a socialist ideology\, their principles and mission reflect values that many would associate with democratic socialism: solidarity\, equity\, democracy\, justice\, equality\, solving social problems\, struggle against predatory monopoly incumbents\, and establishing worker/community ownership of the means of production.\n\nCome to this session to learn more about how these worker-owned tech companies are challenging exploitation and transforming the political economy of New York City. CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:1-202\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:29e159d59c7e3fb068f3c5587743258d URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/29e159d59c7e3fb068f3c5587743258d END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T161500Z DTEND:20260329T171500Z SUMMARY:The Cloud is a Place in Brooklyn: Speculative Design for Community-Owned Data Centers DESCRIPTION:We often think of The Cloud as an amorphous\, invisible atmosphere. In reality\, it is made of heavy metal\, server rooms\, wires\, and massive amounts of heat. Right now\, NYC's data infrastructure\, in particular\, data centers\, are housed in corporate-owned industrial warehouses (often states away) that are heavily secured and require massive energy and water expenditures.\n\nIn this speculative design workshop\, we ask: What if we could see and touch our data infrastructure? What if it lived in our neighborhood parks\, schools\, or community gardens instead of far away warehouses? What if your neighborhood's digital history was stored in a community archive that you helped manage?\n\nThis session is a creative laboratory. We will begin with a brief presentation that introduces the issues data centers pose to rural and urban communities\, and why speculative design is a powerful tool for challenging existing narratives about the inevitability of the growth of corporate-owned data centers. Then\, the bulk of our time will be spent collaging and zine-making. Participants will use multi media materials (images of server racks\, garden vines\, local architecture\, and solar panels) to design a "Data Center" that actually serves their block and to write and record stories to go along with their designs. No technical background is required\, only a desire to reclaim the digital future for physical communities. CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:1-204\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:b377b140e46df3d43ddbad163ec5d957 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/b377b140e46df3d43ddbad163ec5d957 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T161500Z DTEND:20260329T171500Z SUMMARY:Unconference Session Block 2 DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:All Classrooms\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:51373632e38550d43ae5cbe8fda1fec6 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/51373632e38550d43ae5cbe8fda1fec6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T171500Z DTEND:20260329T181500Z SUMMARY:Break - BYO Lunch DESCRIPTION:BYO (bring your own) lunch period\, or grab lunch off site. CATEGORIES:FOOD LOCATION:TBA\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4aa6ecc071ffc3b2334c6a7bee9a06c3 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/4aa6ecc071ffc3b2334c6a7bee9a06c3 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T181500Z DTEND:20260329T191500Z SUMMARY:Pre-Existing Condition: Performance and Group Discussion on Healthcare in America DESCRIPTION:The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson re-energized conversation around the US medical system\, particularly the role of middlemen like insurance companies. We’ll be showing an excerpt from a dance-theater piece about that event\, as well as the large-scale policy issues surrounding it. The 10-minute performance will be followed by a facilitated group discussion. \;More details. CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:2-116\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:90ea7647390530eadb41e9f6ef89c1ed URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/90ea7647390530eadb41e9f6ef89c1ed END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T181500Z DTEND:20260329T191500Z SUMMARY:Unconference Session Block 3 DESCRIPTION:\n CATEGORIES:DAY 2 - UNSCHOOL OF DATA LOCATION:All Classrooms\, 2 Ct Square W\, Long Island City\, Queens\, NY 11101\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4c6ce35099d6fffdc209e7ba614ed081 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/4c6ce35099d6fffdc209e7ba614ed081 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260405T033334Z DTSTART:20260329T200000Z DTEND:20260329T213000Z SUMMARY:Data Through Design Artists Panel at BRIC DESCRIPTION:Join Data Through Design for a panel related to Echo(logies)\, the 2026 exhibition of  \;the annual data art exhibition featuring works that creatively analyze\, interpret\, and interrogate data made available in NYC’s Open Data Portal. This exhibition is presented by DxD in partnership with BRIC and is on display at BRIC House from March 21 through April 5\, 2025.\n\n\n CATEGORIES:EXHIBITION LOCATION:BRIC House\, 647 Fulton St\, Brooklyn\, NY 11217 SEQUENCE:0 UID:f1bcb3fa298cea547f1eef16e6442440 URL:http://nycsodata26.sched.com/event/f1bcb3fa298cea547f1eef16e6442440 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR