This document discusses civic technology and how Christopher Whitaker became involved in the field. It describes the outdated "legacy" unemployment system still used by many government agencies. It highlights challenges faced by government technology projects and contrasts them with successful civic tech communities like Smart Chicago that have built an ecosystem supporting civic innovation. The Civic Works Project is a collaboration between foundations and civic technologists to build apps focused on non-profit and government issues and promote civic engagement.

1. Civic Technology
on the Front Lines
Christopher Whitaker
@CivicWhitaker

2. @CivicWhitaker
Civic Technologist
(Not actually a developer)
Project Manager
Consultant
@SmartChicago
Midwest Brigade
Coordinator
@CodeforAmerica
Former Field Office
Supervisor at the Illinois
Department of
Employment Security
Masters of Public
Administration
@DePaulU
BA Political Science
@SamHoustonState
11B @USArmy

3. How I got Involved

4. The “Legacy” System
Runs on DOS Mainframe system – One screen fails,
they ALL FAIL
Not run in real time
Paper Reports
From 1975 – Before Apple Computer, The Space
Shuttle, before Saddam took power in Iraq, and
before Star Wars
Put it this way:

5. Worst recession since the Depression and our system was
surprised to learn who Luke’s Father was…
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

6. You give me a paper…
 I stamp it, copy it, give you the copy
 Scan it into system as TIF file
 Tell system what it is and whose it is
 System puts it in file
 Adjudicator pulls it up
 Takes questionnaire and enters it into text box
 I get your employer’s paper via FAX stamp it
 Scan it into system as TIF file
 Tell system what it is and whose it is
 System puts it in file
 Adjudicator pulls it up
 Takes questionnaire and enters it into text box
 Adjudicator decides your unemployment claim.
 System generates letter in PDF, mails it to you and your employer
 Employer sends their appeal via FAX generated by their computer system.
 Fax Machine breaks due to overuse.

7. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!

8. But it is…because government tech sucks
CGI Federal’s epic failure to launch
Healthcare.gov
California fires & *sues* SAP after
MyCalPays failure
Massachusetts fires & *sues* Deloitte
after unemployment system disaster
Accenture built system glitch which
causes of food stamp payment delays for
thousands of North Carolina residents.

9. Meanwhile….you have these people…

10. And these people…

11. And don’t forget this team

12. What’s the difference?
An ECOSYSTEM built for Civic Innovation
City of Chicago seeing DATA AS FUEL
An active an ENGAGED civic technology
community
Real SIGNIFICANT investments by local
foundations

13. A community that fights for the users

14. The CUTgroup

15. Collaboration

16. The Civic Works Project
A Knight Foundation / Chicago Community Trust
Grant that will
 Build five civic apps focused on non-profit issues
 Build five civic apps focused on government issues
 Write 200 Content Pieces
 Run the Illinois OpenTech Challenge
 We’ve just received an extension and will be running this for a
second year.

17. Get involved!
To get involved with
Code for America
Brigade
Codeforamerica.org/brig
ade
To get involved with
the Code for America
Peer Network
Codeforamerica.org/abo
ut/peernetwork
To get more
information about
Smart Chicago
Smartchicagocollaborative.org

18. Questions?
@civicwhitaker
christopher@civicwhitaker.com