Mobile phones have become the norm for people to connect with each other, restaurants, events and social media. Companies are making it easy to shop, pay bills and listen to music online. Yet some local governments have a tendency to keep things the way they’ve always been.
There is no one universal definition for innovation. And innovation takes different forms at every level of government. Even in Kansas City, Missouri, innovation has taken many forms. This past year, the city launched a citizen engagement portal and leveraged open data. The woman spearheading those initiatives is Ashley Hand. She is the City’s Chief InnovationRead… Read more »
Freshwater nutrient pollution alone costs the U.S. more than $2 billion each year. And that stat is an underestimate because it doesn’t account for brackish estuaries or the 95,000 miles of salty coasts. In an effort to help address this problem, EPA is part of the Challenging Nutrients Coalition, a group of federal agencies, universities,Read… Read more »
Recently, GovLoop launched our end-of-year report highlighting the top innovations of 2014. But what’s on the horizon for 2015? Below I’ve provided a look at what to expect in 2015, and be sure to check out the report to find out what else we believe is in store for next year. 1. Announcement of MoreRead… Read more »
Back in the late 1890s, Dr. Philip O’Hanlon was asked by his eight-year-old daughter, Virginia O’Hanlon whether Santa Claus really existed. According to the New York Times, O’Hanlon suggested she write to The Sun, a prominent New York City newspaper at the time, assuring her that “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” He unwittingly gaveRead… Read more »
I don’t know about you, but I dread explaining my job to my family members back home. And with the holidays just a few weeks away, I know I am going to get asked, “You write about government employees all day? Why? They are just boring bureaucrats.” As I sit at the table, eating myRead… Read more »
The last moments of a Jenga round are the most suspenseful. As each player removes one block at a time, the tower becomes even shakier. It’s your turn, and the only option is a block on the bottom row. Do you dare take it? You’re forced to make your move, and the result is aRead… Read more »
Philadelphia is the fifth largest US city with a population of 1.5 million. The City sought a better way to serve and connect with its diverse community, and to empower its residents to participate in improving their quality of life. The City partnered with PublicStuff to supplement its 311 call center with an interactive mobile… Read more »
What drives you? We all have different things that motivate us to work hard. Whether this stems from the inspiration you get from your kids or from a childhood goal you set at the age of ten, we all are driven by different motivations. Our passions are our fuel, and without them, we feel restlessRead… Read more »
Remember the Empath on Star Trek? It was the name of an episode and a character on the original series. It aired in 1968. Empathy was central to the identity of a mind-reading alien. (She was a sort of super-empath who used her powers to absorb the injuries of others by taking them on herself.Read… Read more »