So I heard from a friend of a friend about TransparencyCamp, an “unconference” where journalists, developers, technologists, policy-makers, government officials, students, academics, and everyone in between meet to share and exchange knowledge about how to use new technologies and policies to make the government work better for the people — and to help people work smarter with the government.
In the form of an “unconference,” the schedule, sessions, workshops and events at TransparencyCamp are created by all of the attendees who all contribute to making the schedule for the conference with many attendees leading some of the sessions.
In past years, outcomes of this unique event that explores technology and government have been unique, globally recognized initiatives, including CityCamp, another technology and government unconference and CrisisCommons, a site to connect people and resources in times of crisis.
This year the 2012 TransparencyCamp proposed that it would explore questions about government transparency, openness, and accountability.
On the site, I read a tweet by someone who said that the event was like, “drinking a red bull for government accountability.”
The site lists the schedule of sessions and workshops from this past weekend which included sessions such as Your vote. Your world, How to understand the corporate world, Civil servants and civil society, Tweet Tsunami, and How to make civil engagement SEXY!
A recap video for 2012 is not up on the site yet, but you can check out the video from 2011 which gives a great overview for what goes on at this unique event. In 2011, there were 250 technology activists, reporters, bloggers, technology representatives, and representatives from non-profits that attended. The power of citizens, the relationship of citizens and government, and making positive change were at the core of the discussion.
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Transparency Camp 2011 Recap – Video
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