This document summarizes ideas from a workshop on improving access to food data. Key issues discussed include that current food data is inconsistent, outdated, and not granular enough. Suggested solutions included using GPS to locate real-time needs, centralizing a database of food bank locations, and printing school lunch menus with maps of local markets. Other ideas were developing a user-friendly neighborhood map of services, engaging stakeholders through text messages, and creating a film competition to raise awareness and donations. Creating heat maps and databases to show food availability in real-time were also proposed.

1. Humanizing the DataWeCanEndThis workshopSxSWi Festival 3/15Afternoon session

2. What’s the problem?Data is inconsistent by locality, no way to compare and contrastData is old: latest from USDA is from 2008Data needs to be more granular, detailedData doesn’t necessarily motivate people to action…who should get it, how, when and why?Organizations don’t know where to get or how to use/leverage the data

3. IdeasGPS/triangulation to locate needs/opportunities in real-timeEngage with mobile carriers to discuss opportunitiesCentralize database of all food bank locationsNourishkidstoday.org/map – how do we take to the next level in phase 2?Zip+4 to PDF with emailed mapNearest organic food market, farmers market

4. IdeasSchool lunch menus printed at schools (include maps of local organic/farmers markets)User-friendly, parent friendly neighborhood mapWork with nonprofit, school partnersTxt msg when meals are ready or availableEngage all stakeholders (NPOs, schools, religious organizations)

5. IdeasUser-generated locations for services and opportunitiesCreate an open platform…clearinghouse for informationCall-to-action?Donate money (text to give?)Must be easy, straightforward

6. IdeasFilm competition with agencies, reward most impactful story with prize/funding?Personalize the stories in these films/oppsMust have urgency, deadline, film festival (48 hrs)Lights, camera, help (austin)Put a name/face (local and personal?) to the cause and ask for donations

7. IdeasHeat Map: A map that demonstrates how dire the need is right around you (SMS, GPS, etc. enabled)Database of food availability: access it real-time for people with gas/car and can pick-up and deliver itHow can we engage with Census to collect and use data better? What do we need them to do?More?

8. IdeasWho’s going to own the hunger data lists? Take data and partner w/ govt utilities and make it an issue of civic pride: make a competition, repurpose data to allow measurement against other communitiesCoalition of restaurants may compete against others to tackle the problemGive representatives/politicians/communities/etc. grades on a scorecard related to their hunger statisticsCreate a “social utility bill”

9. IdeasAnonymous food “drop banks” based on need (via real-time GPS)Infographics on utility (or other) bills that show consumers hunger issue in their communityMake sure “social utility bill” shows your personal or community impact, donation, improvement over timeAllow “social utility bill” to be connected to social networks, blogs, FB/twitter, etc. for calls-to-action

10. IdeasIn need? Txt to global code for access and deliveryTxt to global code, get PDF of map with local opportunities and needBillboards, small boards, websites…global and granular data for others to use.