Innovation & Performance Blog

Innovation & Performance Blog

Using data and design to creatively solve problems

Guest Post: Working on Affordable Seattle, by IP Intern Benaja (Ben) Tchamba

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Hello world. My name is Benaja Sandrain (Ben) and I worked as an intern on the Innovation & Performance team. I started my internship while I was at North Seattle College and am now at Seattle University. I enjoy exploring ways to improve the system and helping people in getting the services they need as smoothly as possible; which is why I was so excited to work on Affordable Seattle with Expedia.

Ben and other Summer 2019 Mayor’s Office interns with Mayor Durkan

Technology is a passion of mine and I was first in line when I heard our team needed support to carry on the development of the Affordable Seattle website. Expedia developed a prototype that was a website with thousands of lines of code, multiple files, a ready structure waiting for content.  Our job was to get all the department content into the website and make additional refinements to get the prototype into a working state. Alongside my co-intern Lindsey Wallace I oversaw the technical aspects of the portal. Studying Computer Science, I told myself that this was an important learning opportunity and challenge I should make most of.

Jumping into the project, I quickly learned the portal was coded using the JavaScript and Json as well as the React Web Framework. I had very little experience and exposure to those technologies. Nonetheless, I dove in and quickly started learning more about these tools, how they connected and how they are used. I was supported by the software team at Expedia, who would assist me, answer my questions, and provide guidance when needed.

I ran into many walls spending hours and hours attempting to make changes that didn’t always work. However, my efforts paid off, and one by one I was able to conquer these challenges and move forward.

Slowly getting the hang of it, I became faster and more comfortable changing the content of the site. Relying on my knowledge and my understanding of programming in general, I figured out how most of the pieces held together. By playing around with the tools, I became very confident with each of my actions.

More than a software tool, working on the portal knowing the why I was doing what I was doing and the range of people that the portal will be helping really kept me going. I am thankful for the learning experience and feel proud of being part of a project that will have such a great impact on the daily life of many people. I look forward to having people take advantage of the portal (combined with other city services) as it will be seen helpful at many levels.

Now that the portal is officially launched and transitioned into the City fabric, I am confident the new holder of this tool will do great things in continuing to nourish the portal. I am excited about the future vision of the portal and for myself, am looking forward to working on similarly impactful projects.

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Reflections on CityLab Detroit

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Last week, I had the pleasure to attend CityLab Detroit, a 2.5 day event that is billed as “the preeminent global summit organized to address the most urgent urban issues of our time”, or in my words Coachella for City Nerds. The event, hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Atlantic, and the Aspen Institute, brings together mayors, city innovators, urban experts, and artists for unlikely conversations that both reflect on and generate new breakthroughs related to what cities are facing. I was blown away by the line-up that CityLab assembled this year, and came back to Seattle with my buzzing with ideas for us to adopt and adapt for use in addressing our own challenges. I also came back inspired, which was helpful a week before the midterms; after hearing city leaders talk about the concrete actions they’re taking to improve the lives of their residents, I was reminded of the power of public service and the good that can be done when you block out the noise and focus on outcomes for those we’re trying to serve.

Highlights

Given Seattle’s own affordability crisis, my favorite one-on-one interview at CityLab was conducted by Jim Fallows with Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, California. Mayor Tubbs has launched the nation’s first experiment to test universal basic income, and it was powerful to hear in his words why this pilot – which will closely measure several key indicators for those receiving the monthly payment of $500 a month – is important not only for his constituents in Stockton, but for so many folks across the U.S. right now. The idea of universal basic income has generated a lot of discussion, both positive and negative, and I look forward to seeing what Stockton learns. You can watch the interview with Mayor Tubbs at the 1:39 mark here: https://youtu.be/xb4DtSwXgAA

Another effort I’ve been watching from afar and was keen to hear more about is Sidewalk Labs’ smart neighborhood project in Toronto, Quayside. Dan Doctoroff, who leads the Alphabet company, shared with the CityLab audience the vision for Quayside and addressed the understandable concerns that abound regarding how the project will balance urban placemaking with technology. You can watch the interview with Doctoroff at the 40:30 mark here: https://youtu.be/xb4DtSwXgAA.

Last but certainly not least, the biggest highlight of CityLab for me was spending time with other city changemakers. In a first-of-its-kind convening the day before CityLab began, Bloomberg Philanthropies convened Chief Innovators from over 60 global cities to share our work, get inspired, and develop connections that will generate ideas and collaborations that are sure to be featured in future CityLab events. The day included a great session with Dr. Michael Hallsworth from the Behavioral Insights Team and a panel of civic innovators who shared successes and failures in a candid conversation about their work. For someone who tries to read as much as I can online about the work of other cities, nothing beats grabbing coffee and chatting with someone about their work. It was a great day and the theme of connection was reiterated through a lunch at the end of CityLab with directors of other Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded innovation teams. This is a group that inspires me, and breaking bread with them was a great way to end the trip to Detroit.

CityLab Your Couch

If you’re interested in checking out the conversations from CityLab Detroit – including a great panel discussion on Unleashing Opportunity featuring our own Mayor Jenny Durkan – check out the Aspen Institute’s CityLab website for videos.

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5 Reasons I’m Stoked for the Seattle Design Festival

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As a relatively recent newcomer to both human-centered design and Seattle, I’ve loved getting to know both at the same time over the last few years. If you’re interested in either design or the Emerald City, I highly recommend the Seattle Design Festival which opens tonight. If you’re on the fence, here are the top 5 reasons I’m excited for this year’s festival.

[Shameless plug: I’ll be speaking on a panel on using innovation and design to build a risk-tolerant, future-focused world – come join me for a great discussion on Tuesday, 9/18 from 6-8pm at Artefact!]

  1. This year’s theme: TRUST

The theme – trust – couldn’t be more relevant right now, given that trust in both public and private institutions are not exactly at their peak. I’d say that out of everything I’ve watched in the last several weeks (including confirmation hearings, news, and Netflix/Amazon Prime shows), I personally have more trust in Nike’s ability to convince me that I need new shoes than I do in John Krasinski’s ability to take on the iconic role of Jack Ryan.

With this year’s programming, SDF asks how – in this broader context of mistrust – can design affirm and strengthen critical connections of trust in our community. It’s an important and worthy question to consider, though not just for design.

     2. The timing works well with the arrival of fall weather

The first week of SDF coincides with some lovely weather, so why not come inside to check out what is #3 on my list…

     3. Curated conversations that educate and provoke

Take a quick scan of the panel discussions that comprise this year’s festival and you’ll find topics related to autonomous vehicles, AI and its challenges and opportunities, and the ins and outs of community planning. (Bonus: the latter features a wonderful and knowledgeable City colleague who will without a doubt make this a fascinating discussion.) It sounds corny, but there’s truly something for everyone in the line-up of events and conversations they’ve put together.

    4. Interactive art installations

I’m looking forward to getting out to some of the several installations that are a part of this year’s festival, including the Gates Foundation Discovery Center’s Mapping Trust installation, which visualizes how empathy and connections relate to building trust and solving local and global issues together. This is one of many installations that will be highlighted at this weekend’s Block Party, so don’t limit yourself to checking out just one.

 5. Seeing the Seattle community show up

Since moving to Seattle, I’ve found that it’s unique in how people come together around the things it loves (take hockey for example). The design community is no different in bringing folks together and provoking curiosity, and it’s one of the things that makes the Seattle Design Festival so special.

So there you have it – and if I haven’t convinced you, maybe Seattle Magazine will.

 

 

 

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Results for America

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Results for America’s Local Government Fellows program was founded in September 2014 to provide an advanced group of local government leaders in diverse and influential cities and counties across the country the knowledge and support to implement strategies that consistently use data and evidence to drive policy and budget decisions on major policy challenges. The City of Seattle was selected in 2015, and the fellowship was transferred to the Innovation & Performance Director in November 2017 at the time of the mayoral transition.

[Read more…]

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Innovation Team’s Portfolio to Reduce Youth and Young Adult Homelessness

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THE NEED // INTRODUCTION

In 2017, 11,643 individuals experiencing homelessness were counted in King County. An estimated 2,833 individuals were in families with children, 135 of those families were households headed by a young parent under 25 years of age. An estimated 1,498 individuals were unaccompanied youth and young adults, including 221 unaccompanied minors. Since 2013, the number of homeless students in Seattle Public Schools increased by 55% to 3,612.

[Read more…]

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Innovation Team’s Portfolio to Address Disparities Facing Young Black Men

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THE NEED // INTRODUCTION

Opportunities abound in Seattle, yet disparities persist for young black men related to economic, educational, and social outcomes. These disparities manifest themselves in many ways: A disproportionately high impact of violence, reduced access to opportunity, and perceived lower levels of well-being. In recent years, Seattle has seen an increase in youth involved in shootings and domestic violence and this violence has disproportionately affected communities of color.  [Read more…]

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