In this episode Professor Goldsmith talks with Professor Elizabeth Linos, director of The People Lab and an expert in data and evidence-based policymaking who researches how to best support the people of government and the communities they serve. They discuss Linos' path from practitioner to academic, the role of geographic data in service improvement, and how behavioral science can help governments do more with less.  

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Ash Center at Harvard Kennedy School, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode of the Data-Smart City Pod, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Kelly Jin, Vice President for Community and National Initiatives at the Knight Foundation and former Chief Analytics Officer for the city of New York. They discuss the recent Infrastructure Innovation Summit, cohosted by the Knight Foundation and Data-Smart City Solutions at Harvard University, where folks from cities across the country convened with leaders in the federal, private, and academic spheres to discuss the future of urban environments. Jin also talks about why cities must start with the question "what are we trying to achieve?" before collecting data and implementing new technology, in order to remain resident-focused.

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Ash Center at Harvard Kennedy School, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode of the Data-Smart City Pod, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Christine Ma, the Urban Planning Practice Lead at Esri Professional Services. They discuss how cities can use digital, cloud-based copies of the built environment  as a foundation for urban planning and community engagement, while addressing sustainability, resiliency, and equity. Christine also highlights lessons she's learned from supporting cities in their planning work, including the importance of change management and sharing best practices. 

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Ash Center at Harvard Kennedy School, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode of Data-Smart City Pod, Professor Steve Goldsmith interviews Elana Needle, the director of the Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative at the Latino civil rights organization UnidosUS. The Anchor Collaborative is a collection of national, multi-racial organizations that advances equity by visualizing, tracking, and sharing data on issues like census responses, voter suppression, and police accountability. The Collaborative is intent on identifying and repairing the racist power structures that have disenfranchised millions of Americans of color, while best directing their funding in a data-driven way.    

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Ash Center at Harvard Kennedy School, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode Professor Stephen Goldsmith, Ernani Choma (postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard), and Matt Raifman (Ph.D. candidate at Boston University) discuss their new report, which revealed that the racial disparities in traffic deaths is actually worse than previously believed. They discuss why this is the case, what still needs to be studied, and how cities can collect better data to address the latent racism built into transportation systems and infrastructure. 

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode Professor Stephen Goldsmith and Hilary Rau, Vice President of Policy and Community Engagement at the Center for Policing Equity, discuss what public safety means, how and why it's being redefined, and the role of data in reducing harm while improving quality of life. Rau also outlines the ways that community safety and trust can be enhanced through infrastructure and public health measures while decreasing surveillance and trauma. 

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode Professor Stephen Goldsmith and Executive Director of Baltimore's Parking Authority Peter Little discuss how he manages occupancy, parking rates, and open spaces in the city. As part of Baltimore's innovation work, Little is pioneering demand-based parking rates that help manage city spaces, provide more accurate costs for drivers, and offer options for parking costs.

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode Professor Stephen Goldsmith and Denver's Chief Data Officer Paul Kresser talk about the importance of ethically and responsibly using data to inform policy and service delivery. Kresser also discusses Denver's strong data culture, how to incorporate data literacy into department trainings, and why it's important to have this work codified legislatively.  

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode Earl Buford, president of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, moderates a virtual book talk with Growing Fairly co-authors Professor Stephen Goldsmith and Kate Markin Coleman. They discuss supporting adult learners, skills as currency, the need for transparency workforce data, and the importance of system change.

This interview was recorded as part of a recent event hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center.

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter. 

In this episode Professor Goldsmith interviews Dr. Ben Weston, Chief Health Policy Advisor and Director of Medical Services for Milwaukee County. Dr. Weston discusses his roles in the county and how his team collected and mapped data to inform both COVID-19 responses and vaccination delivery, with a specific lens on health equity. As one of the first counties to declare racism a public health crisis, mapping out rates of deaths, infections, and vaccinations helped Milwaukee leaders delivery services and health care in a more equitable way. 

Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa

About Data-Smart City Solutions

Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on Twitter.