Every Seattleite has an opinion about the city’s growing traffic problems and how we can solve them. Unfortunately, astute observations alone are not enough to make these problems go away, but now that we have access to a growing body of relevant data, we’re getting much closer to doing exactly that .

Seattle Data for Good

My interest in getting involved with a group that solves real problems using real tools led me to attend a meetup organized by Seattle Data for Good, a citizens service organization that seeks out those who want to use their knowledge to help people, organizations, and communities in need of support.The organization has gained over 600 members in the last six months. The members are passionate Seattleites who believe that many of our city’s problems can be solved through civic engagement and collaboration. The group brings together people from different backgrounds with no other motivation than to improve the community.

The Meeting

The evening meeting was led by the co-organizers Ian Melanson and Michael Makris, a data scientist at Uber. The meeting began with about 20 members but more people arrived throughout. By the time Ian and Matt finished with housekeeping, there were easily over 40 members in attendance, eager to jump into their respective groups of six to eight members and start working on their projects. These people had day jobs and yet were filled with enthusiasm at 7 p.m. on a workday. The mood was contagious.

It was fascinating to observe such a diverse group of people work together to solve a problem they shared an interest in. Members ranged from students to scientists and engineers to marketing professionals. Since the group is self-supporting, it has use for every kind of volunteer professional skill available. Some of the volunteers do not have technical backgrounds but make for great information scrapers, data miners, and project managers. The group currently  is focused on problems in five areas: homelessness, transportation, education, healthcare, and the environment. Some small groups have fully fleshed out projects developed while a few others are still brainstorming over what specific problems to tackle within the the different areas. One of the projects that caught my attention is the project to digitize documentation for the homeless visitors of Mary’s Place. Visitors sometimes lose their physical paperwork, which can affect their ability to receive service from Mary’s Place.

All Talk, All Action

I also had the chance to talk to Paul Privateer, the founder of the group. Paul described Seattle Data for Good as a platform for people to contribute to society through the many projects undertaken by its members, all of whom are free to propose new problems to solve together. Aside from brainstorming about members’ proposals, the group also networks with local organizations to create partnerships with them and solve problems they may have. A feasibility study is conducted before a project becomes full-on active. Currently, Seattle Data for Good is working with other organizations such as InvestEd, Seattle Union Gospel Mission, and even the City of Seattle itself to come up with project solutions.

Moving Forward

Paul is optimistic about the progress of the group. He believes that in time Seattle Data for Good may not only solve local issues but also issues faced in other parts of the country and even in other parts of the world. To take it further, Seattle Data for Good hopes to inspire other communities to start their own civic collaboration initiatives.

Civic collaboration is about bringing together different parts of the community and working together to improve society. It is a social movement that is picking up in the U.S. and Seattle has the opportunity to set the example  for the rest of the country. The next time you think about what could be done to improve our society, ask yourself where you fit in and what you can do. Seattle Data for Good might be your answer.

Learn more about Seattle Data for Good through its website and Meetup group!