Smart Chicago is a civic organization devoted to improving lives in Chicago through technology. It works on increasing access to the internet, improving skills for using technology, and developing products from data that contribute to quality of life. Smart Chicago was founded by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, and the City of Chicago. It focuses on infrastructure projects like the Civic User Testing Group and creates software like Foodborne Chicago and Chicago Early Learning.

1. Madonna Scholars
+ Smart Chicago
Daniel X. O’Neil
The Chicago Community Trust
October 17, 2015
1
@danxoneil @smartchicago

2. Hoy
• Where you from?
• About Smart Chicago + Chicago Community
Trust
• Lunch!
• Tech
• Civic User Testing Group
• Youth-Led Tech
• Follow along! https://goo.gl/HS1r3T
• Fill out the form! https://goo.gl/nSwfE0
October 17, 2015 2
@danxoneil @smartchicago

3. Where you from?
October 17, 2015 3

4. Where you from?
October 17, 2015 4

5. Where you from?
October 17, 2015 5

6. Where you from?
October 17, 2015 6
@danxoneil @smartchicago

7. So anyway ya, buy all my books on
Amazon. Thanks.
October 17, 2015 7
@danxoneil @smartchicago

8. OK enough of that. Let’s talk about
something that really matters.
October 17, 2015 8
@danxoneil @smartchicago

9. Our Principles
Technology
Open
Everyone
Chicago
October 17, 2015 9

10. Our Principles
Technology
Open
Everyone
Chicago
October 17, 2015 10

11. We’re all about technology
• Everything we do relates to technology
• We are of and about the Internet
• We believe in the transformative power of
the Internet to change lives and build the
economy for all
October 17, 2015 11
@danxoneil @smartchicago

12. We are open
• Open source code
• More importantly: open processes, open
minds, open methods
• Allowing others “in”, wherever that may be
October 17, 2015 12
@danxoneil @smartchicago

13. Target market: everyone
• We believe in the power of the network
• The network needs everyone in it in order
for it to be powerful
• We work on solutions that cover the entire
city
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@danxoneil @smartchicago

14. Chicago is our middle name
• All of our work is done here
• Unique and thriving ecosystem
• We serve as a model for others
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@danxoneil @smartchicago

15. Access, Skills, and Data
Smart Chicago is a civic organization
devoted to improving lives in Chicago
through technology. We work on increasing
access to the Internet, improving skills for
using Internet, and developing meaningful
products from data that measurably
contribute to the quality of life of residents in
our region and beyond.
October 17, 2015 15
@danxoneil @smartchicago

16. Access
If you’re not connected
to the Internet, it is
difficult for technology to
be of much use to you.
October 17, 2015 16
@danxoneil @smartchicago

17. Skills
If you can’t use the
Internet, being
connected isn’t going to
be all that meaningful.
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@danxoneil @smartchicago

18. Data
We construe data as
content. Because there
has to be something
meaningful to look at
once you’re connected
and skilled.
October 17, 2015 18
@danxoneil @smartchicago

19. The Founders:
2 Philanthropies, 1 Municipality
October 17, 2015 19

20. The John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation
• A center for ideation and
conception
• Julia Stasch: 2007 report,
“The City that NETWorks”
• Our primary source of funding
October 17, 2015 20
@danxoneil @smartchicago

21. The Chicago Community Trust
• Provides housing for the
organization and is fiscal
agent
• At the center of funding and
knowledge for the region
• Critical financial, human
resources, and other support
October 17, 2015 21
@danxoneil @smartchicago

22. The City of Chicago
• The most important policy
lever in the region
• Departmental relationships
• A critical partner for having
impact and getting things
done
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@danxoneil @smartchicago

23. Let’s eat
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24. We function as a tech
development outfit.
October 17, 2015 24

25. Focus on infrastructure
We make technology, programs,
and initiatives that allow others
to be more effective— to
provide clarity and impetus
October 17, 2015 25
@danxoneil @smartchicago

26. CUTGroup
• Civic User Testing Group as a new
model for UX testing, digital skills
development, and community
engagement in civic tech
• 800+ residents are available
• We’ve paid each of them a $5 VISA gift
card. When they participate in a test,
they get a $20 gift card
• We help the developers design and
implement UX testing and it allows us
to be deeply engaged with
communities while improving digital
skills
October 17, 2015 26
@danxoneil @smartchicago

27. CUTGroup
• 1,000+ residents are available
• We’ve paid each of them a $5
VISA gift card. When they
participate in a test, they get a
$20 gift card
October 17, 2015 27
@danxoneil @smartchicago

28. CUTGroup
• We help the developers design
and implement UX testing and
it allows us to be deeply
engaged with communities
while improving digital skills
October 17, 2015 28
@danxoneil @smartchicago

29. CUTGroup
• Are you in Cook County?
• Ever?
• Then we need you
• Now!
• www.cutgroup.org
October 17, 2015 29
@danxoneil @smartchicago

30. CUTGroup
(773) 747-6239
www.cutgroup.org
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@danxoneil @smartchicago

31. And we produce a lot of software.
October 17, 2015 31
@danxoneil @smartchicago

32. Foodborne Chicago
• We use computers & code to search Twitter for
tweets related to food poisoning in Chicago
• We do as much as we can to automatically zero-in
on the tweets we think are really about a possible
food poisoning case and really coming from Chicago
• Then real humans review the tweets and @reply
back to people with a link back to our site, hoping to
generate legitimate service requests
October 17, 2015 32
@danxoneil @smartchicago

33. Chicago Early Learning
• Easily find early learning programs near your
home or work
• Compare programs side-by-side to select the
highest quality option for your child
• Kick off the enrollment process
October 17, 2015 33
@danxoneil @smartchicago

34. Chicago Works For You
• Citywide dashboard with ward-by-ward
views of service delivery in Chicago
• Slice, dice, view, review
• Sort by whatever interests you
• Automatic, running totals
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@danxoneil @smartchicago

35. Legit.
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36. Poetry and technology go together.
October 17, 2015 36

37. Chicago Health Atlas
• View citywide information about health
trends and take action near you to improve
your own health
• Our health programs are run by Kyla
Williams
• Also: Smart Health Centers
October 17, 2015 37
@danxoneil @smartchicago

38. Youth-Led Tech
• Technology mentoring program in five
Chicago neighborhoods: Austin,
Englewood, Humboldt Park, North
Lawndale, and Roseland
• http://www.smartchicagocollaborative.org
/work/education/youth-led-tech/
October 17, 2015 38
@danxoneil @smartchicago

39. What website Would You Make?
• Technology mentoring program in five
Chicago neighborhoods: Austin,
Englewood, Humboldt Park, North
Lawndale, and Roseland
• http://www.smartchicagocollaborative.org
/work/education/youth-led-tech/
October 17, 2015 39
@danxoneil @smartchicago

40. Tour of The Trust
October 17, 2015 40
@danxoneil @smartchicago

41. Sometimes I wonder: where are
all the people?
@danxoneil @smartchicago

42. Big data can
be empty of
humans.
@danxoneil @smartchicago

43. Thing is:
Humans
have
immense
use.
@danxoneil @smartchicago

44. OK just two more things.
October 17, 2015 44

45. We have a chance to make
Chicago the most dynamic
digital city in the world.
October 17, 2015 45
@danxoneil @smartchicago

46. Tell me where you’re from.
@danxoneil
(773) 960-6045
doneil@cct.org
October 17, 2015 46
@danxoneil @smartchicago