OpenTwinCities is a place for software developers interested in developing and creating local instances of civic technology apps in the Twin Cities to roll up their sleeves and make things happen.

On a related note, E-Democracy.org is exploring opportunities to raise the support required for the next CityCamp in Minnesota in 2013. This dynamic event combines geeks, wonks, and citizens interested in open government, open communities, and civic tech in an exciting “unconference” format.

Join the planning committee online group to get involved.

CityCamp is an international unconference series and online community focused on innovation for municipal governments and community organizations.

On November 12 we held the 1st CityCamp in Minnesota! 

On Wednesday, January 11th, the networking continues at The Republic in Seven Corners - the same location as our post- CityCampMN happy hour.

>> RSVP HERE <<

THIS EVENT IS FREE. 

The theme for the first of our 2012 Quarterly Meetups is “Nonprofits.”  MN is a hotbed of great nonprofits and we welcome these groups, their supporters, and the whole CityCamp community for a great time! 

4 p.m. CityCamp 2012 Brainstorm – Optional

Join volunteer Bud Fisher with Advocate Interactive to shape what’s next for CityCamp in 2012!  Topics include upcoming themes, speakers, code-a-thons, and whatever else is important to the group!

5 p.m. Networking Unsad Hour

After the brainstorm we’ll open up for networking and conversation. Expect to meet great people from government, startups, nonprofits, citizen groups and more! (The Republic’s awesome Happy Hour specials run until 6 p.m.)

6 p.m. Fire Drill Presentations

If we get 50 registrants – although let’s try for 75 – we’ll take votes for three attendee-chosen topics prior to networking.  Our three notable speakers will whip up some great content during networking, then give short presentations on the topics…this should be exciting!

Let’s make this a great start to the year – let’s all invite five of our contacts to join the collaboration for a lively event!

After You Register

• Check out the Code for America “Brigade” idea to connect civic hackers city by city. It is being led by CityCamp, co-founder Kevin Curry. Sign-up now and let’s get some civic coding going.
• After you register here, consider joining the global ongoing online CityCamp Exchange to connect with those going to similar events in San Francisco, London, and beyond.
  
• Join the CityCampMN online working group to help with this collaborative network.

Every day, tech-minded citizens across the country are doing good by their communities, literally geeking out about how they can help re-define the relationship government has with its citizens, using technology as a democratic tool to collaboratively empower both.

So much is happening in the civic technology community – website redesigns, new websites, open data initiatives, apps, camps, developer contests, hackathons and more – it’s hard to get a perspective on or truly appreciate the collective work of these dot-dogooders both inside and outside government.

That’s why we created the 2011 GovFresh Awards.

It’s time to recognize and honor all that’s been accomplished this year.

It’s time to say thank you.

Here are the categories. Start entering and start voting.

• City of the Year
• Public Servant of the Year
• Citizen of the Year
• App of the Year
• Best Government/Citizen Collaboration
• Best Use of Open Source
• Best Open and Participatory Budgeting Initiative
• Best Open Government Policy
• Best Open Data Platform
• Best Civic Hackathon
• Best Civic Start-up
• Best Use of Social Media
• Best Use of Social Media for Emergency Management
• Best Transit App
• Best 311 App
• Best Emergency Management App
• Best Social Services App

We will have a more detailed review of CityCampMN soon.

For now, here are some news articles, blog posts and other items.

A key outcome is that that Bud Fisher volunteered to call a “what’s next” meeting in January 2012 with the dozen or more volunteers who raised their hands to explore what’s next. To join Bud and others, join the CityCampMN online working group.

Also, everyone should join the global CityCamp Exchange for useful exchange across the 2.0 and local government, community, etc. space.

Tweet that you are on your way or will be attending with the hashtag #CityCampMN.

Dress casual.

Then get parked and then get inside the Humphrey Center on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota.

Coffee will be out at 8:00 a.m. when registration opens. We will start at 9:00 a.m. sharp.

Humphrey School Social Media course students will have a blue sticker on their name tags if you have any questions during the day.

Fill out session idea cards (with something you’d like to share OR learn – video example) in the Atrium. Those who want to “lead” a session may also briefly promote their idea during the morning on stage. (Similar ideas are then combined and crafted into the full session grid off stage.)

• Key Documents:
• Agenda and Sponsors
• Session Grid (final version available by 11 a.m. with first sessions set based on previous online submissions)
• Slides - General
• Ignite Slide – To Add Later
• Public Attendee List – Scroll Down
• Detailed Contact List – Available at event for download (you may edit in/out information from your registration)
• Live+
• Tweets - #CityCampMN on Twitter and @CityCampMN
• Live Blog - CityCampMN Live Group Blog on Tumblr – Post via e-mail to:
  hoolug629@tumblr.com
• Session Notes – Special thanks to the Humphrey social media course students
• Photos - Photos tagged “citycampmn” on Flickr
• Video - Video tagged “citycampmn” on YouTube
• No live webcasts are planned – If anyone does, please share link via the live Tumblr blog and Twitter with #citycampmn #live

An “unconference” is like taking the spirited coffee break and making it the entire conference. So, let’s get the ball rolling now online.

Imagine this, you’ve arrived at the conference and are mingling about and just joined a group of friendly folks. Everyone is looking at you …

1. Who are you? Be conversational.

2. Why are you coming to or interested in CityCamp Minnesota?

3. Share any contact details and links you wish.

Time to be unMinnesotan and toot your horn a little bit. How the heck are you going to connect with those you are meant to meet on November 12 if you don’t say hello?

Answer by first clicking “X Comments …” or use the comment box if you see it below. Select the option to receive introductions via e-mail if you want to watch them as more are posted.

P.S. We will keep bugging you to introduce yourself until at least half of those on the Eventbrite attendee list (scroll down) say hello.

From great people in government, community organizations, and technology start-ups to “everyday citizens” who happen to be software developers, social media experts, open government advocates, and students, everyone is welcome.

• In a world of scarce public resources, how do we take advantage of the “2.0″ online, social media, and open source world to help build awesome local communities?
• How can we connect the interested public with 2.0 skills to work with government, community groups, neighborhood associations, local ethnic associations, and more?
  
• How can our local communities be bold, inclusive, open, accessible, wired and darn right innovative when bottom-up connects with top-down for collaboration?
• Learn more about other CityCamps and gathering in cities around the world.

The Conversations Starts with You.

• Register now. Space is limited.
• We just released the final batch of 50 tickets! Sign up as a general attendee or select a specific ticket if you fit the category here.

Thanks to our sponsors and volunteers, the event is free!

We will start with coffee and pastries at 8 a.m. at the Humphrey Center, at the University of Minnesota on the West Bank on Saturday, November 12th.  Our “you just gotta be there” opening session begins at 9:00 a.m. sharp. We will close up officially at 3 p.m. and pick a near by pub for an informal happy hour or five.

• Submit/vote on session ideas

Share this event on Twitter using the #citycampmn hashtag, on Facebook, and via e-mail with others.

What is an “unconference?”

Simple. The coffee break becomes the conference.

1. You introduce yourself at the beginning with your name, organization (if one), and three words.
2. Via the web now and that morning you can say what you want to discover or what your are inspired to share related to the Community 2.0 theme.
3. Some magic happens.
4. And the day is filled with at least 25 different very interactive small and large break-out discussions (~5 to 25 people).
5. From time to time we report summaries back to the full group and lots of the content is recorded, tweeted, and shared to all.

Get involved

Get involved in the global CityCamp movement:

• Join the global CityCamp Exchange online community
• Tune into tweets using the #citycamp hashtag.
• Help with this event and join the online group for the CityCamp Minnesota Committee hosted by E-Democracy.org. If this CityCamp goes well, perhaps you will be the one to lead the next gathering!