Local decision makers, including city and county leaders, have a critical role to play in creating pathways to economic mobility—but too often, the data and systems that could help identify and support residents in need are fragmented or underutilized.
This 90-minute virtual summit will explore how local governments can use data and AI together to improve economic outcomes in their communities by surfacing gaps, targeting services more effectively, and ensuring residents can access the tools and programs that move them toward financial stability and long-term economic security.
From predictive analytics to AI-powered service delivery, this event will show how local leaders are modernizing their approach to economic mobility using technology that’s smart, ethical, and community-centered.
Summit Agenda:

Welcome & Opening Remarks
Keynote: Data + AI for Opportunity – Getting Beyond the Buzzwords
Q&A with Lynn Overmann, Executive Director of the Beeck Center
Panel Discussion: From Fragmented Data to Actionable Insight.
Spotlight Session: Tools, Platforms & Resources for Implementation
Closing

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Digital Service Network (DSN) is hosting ‘Behind the Curtain: A Digital Delivery Story Slam’ – a virtual Moth-style story slam designed to celebrate their experiences and the often-unseen heart behind public service. ❤️
Let’s celebrate the great work that’s been done thus far and the humans who made it possible! This event will draw back the curtain on the essential human work that makes digital service truly service. We want to hear the tales of dedication, skill, and the moments that made you proud.
If you are a former federal employee who worked in a digital delivery role and were fired, placed on administrative leave, or otherwise dismissed since January 2025, we invite you to join us to share your story or simply listen and connect with others. Share this with all the former federal employees in your network who deserve to have their voices amplified and their contributions celebrated!
🌟 Register now or share with your networks: https://airtable.com/app1jXPgbJaZpCtTU/pagsmjKtNUexmzFxr/form

📅 Date and Time
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm ET | Zoom
 
🎤 Title
Building Inclusive Climate Resilience with Human-Centered Design in Government
Led by Elham Ali
 
🎙️ Speakers

Elham Ali. Researcher at Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, Georgetown University.

Liz Boyer. Climate Action Coordinator at the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

Jorge Valens. Innovation Manager at the Miami-Dade County IT, Florida.

 
📢 Workshop Description
Climate resilience work in local government is complex—it requires meaningful community engagement, inclusive decision-making, and access to the right tech, data, and resources. But what enables municipalities to do this work well? And what stands in the way, especially given shifting federal policies?
 
This workshop explores the intersection of Human-Centered Design (HCD), climate resilience, and civic tech—not just how local governments apply HCD principles to climate action, but also what supports or hinders their efforts in developing tech-enabled climate solutions.
 
What to expect:

🏛️ A moderated Q&A discussion with local government staff, sharing real-world insights on the opportunities and barriers to effective climate tech resilience efforts.
🤝 Strategies for engaging communities and co-designing climate tech-enabled solutions that reflect their needs.
💻 A look at the challenges and nuances of implementing tech-enabled climate resilience initiatives, from data collection to enabling community-led actions.
📊 How to develop and use climate data tools with resources from local, state, and federal governments to support informed decision-making.

 
If you’re working in or alongside local government and want to understand what drives tech-enabled, community-centered climate action, join us for this timely discussion!
 
REGISTER HERE
 

About Elham Ali:
Elham Ali, MPH, PMP (she/ella) is an equity-centered design researcher and impact evaluator with over a decade of experience in civic tech and public health. At The Opportunity Project for Cities with the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, she has trained U.S. city and county governments in human-centered design for climate resilience and housing security. Previously, as Lead HCD Advisor at the Pima County Health Department, she led efforts for the $4M Advancing Health Literacy program to improve equitable COVID-19 vaccine access. Elham is currently pursuing her doctorate at Johns Hopkins University, researching the role of local governments in delivering equitable, nature-based climate solutions.
 

Join Civic Match on Thursday, Feb 27 from 5-6PM ET via zoom for their next Civic Match Live event: Opportunities in Civic Tech and Data Analytics. This event is specifically for employers hiring for roles in civic tech and data analytics and will be a great opportunity to engage with top tier talent. Attendees of the event will be Civic Match candidates with experience working in data and technology at the federal level or on a campaign and who have an interest in taking on a similar role in state or local governments.
 
During the hour, we’re asking participating employers to:

Share a brief pitch about your organization and roles with all attendees.
Join a smaller Q&A session with candidates specifically interested in your positions.

 
To RSVP please email Olivia@workforamerica.org no later than Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025.

Join the Digital Service Network (DSN) for a book talk with Richard Pope, author of Platformland: An anatomy of next-generation public services.
 
In his 2024 book, Platformland: An anatomy of next-generation public services, Richard Pope lays out how and why the promises of digital have yet to be realized in the public sector and offers a strategic vision for how to “share the benefits of digital with the public fully.” The book offers practical solutions to realize this vision with design patterns, strategic interventions, and leading examples from across the globe. It’s a must-read for technologists, program managers, and policymakers alike who are looking to digital solutions to help make government more understandable, accountable, and democratic.
 
Join us on Wednesday, February 12 at 10am PT | 1pm ET to hear more about translating the book’s ideas into practice from Richard Pope and ask him questions about how public institutions can get digital right.
 
We’re excited to offer a select number of registrants a free copy of Platformland! Register and opt in to future communications from the DSN by noon ET on January 31 to be entered into the raffle.
 
More about the Author: Richard Pope was part of the founding team of the UK Government Digital Service and the first product manager for GOV.UK. He created many of the initial design concepts for both GOV.UK and the digital account for Universal Credit (the UK’s social security service). He was a senior fellow at Harvard in 2018/2019, researching and lecturing on ‘Government as a Platform.’
 
Register Now