DataKindSF DataDive

Calling all socially conscious analysts, statisticians, data scientists, coders, hackers, designers, and eager-to-learn do-gooders!

A DataDive is a weekend-long, marathon-style event where teams of volunteers rally together to help social change organizations do initial data analysis, exploration, and prototyping. Tickets are open to volunteers of all skill levels.

We are collaborating with three non-profit organizations for this DataDive. More about each organization:

Concrn.org:

When 911 isn’t the best option Connect with the Compassionate Response Network

Compassion at Work:

A compassionate social service network that connects people in need to volunteer responders trained in crisis intervention and mediation. They offer an alternative to calling 911 for many crisis situations. Concerned citizens can download their mobile app on iPhone or Android or call them directly to access our services. They make it easy for both witnesses and victims of nonviolent crimes to create a report and directly dispatch our network.

SupplyBank (K to College):

Replicating the successful model of regional food banks, K to College school program builds a “supply bank” to efficiently address the material needs of California’s disadvantaged children and families. Similar to how food banks work with farmers and government agencies to distribute food to alleviate hunger, SupplyBank.Org works with manufacturers, school districts, and social service agencies to distribute basic materials to alleviate kids’ material needs. The organization collaborates with unique partners that enable us to provide materials at a fraction of their in-store cost. 

Living Goods:

Living Goods is aiming for change at systemic scale. To achieve this, we help visionary NGOs, funders, and governments learn from and adapt the Living Goods model around the world. Our partners include BRAC, PSI, CARE, and the Clinton Foundation.

Schedule

Friday, March 31st

6:00 PM: Doors open, sign-in, Happy Hour

7:30 PM: Opening Remarks

9:00 PM: Reception ends

On Friday we all get together to hear a bit from the organizations we'll be working with.

It's also a great chance to meet the other volunteers you'll be working and you'll have a chance to talk with many people from our partner causes. Plus, there will be snacks and drinks. Not a bad way to spend your Friday night!

Saturday, April 1st

8:30 AM: Doors open, sign-in and breakfast

9:00 AM: Brief review from Data Ambassadors, then data diving!

12:30 PM: Lunch

1:15 PM: Open Roundtables

6:00 PM: Dinner

11:00 PM: Everybody goes home for the night

Saturday we'll get to the data!  Participants will choose which problems they'd like to work on and form teams around their individual questions.  Each team will have a Data Ambassador assigned to them who will help advise on and manage the projects throughout the day.  We'll have meals and keep the space open until 11PM for any late-night divers.

Sunday, April 2nd

8:00 AM:  Doors open, breakfast

1:00 PM: Presentations from teams to social organizations

2:30 PM: Another successful DataDive in the books!

This is your chance to show the world what you have done with data!  There is no expectation of slides or other presentation materials, simply use whatever method of conveying your work to the organizations you feel is best.  This is also the chance for our partner NGOs to better understand what your team did. These presentations can be single or group work, but they can be no longer than 10 minutes each.  We want to give everyone a chance to speak, and get people out at a reasonable time.

FAQs

Unlike a hackathon, the goal is not (necessarily) to create an app.  Instead it is to work with teams of experts to understand a truly difficult problem through data.  You could end up with a visualization, an analysis, some graphs, or even just some new datasets by the end of the event, and all of those are fantastic results!

We do not assign you to a problem.  We want you to work with the problem and data you feel most passionate about, so come Friday with an open mind and be ready to learn.

We do not provide any hardware or software for you to use.  We'll have the data and some services set up (wiki, DropBox, Github), but otherwise you should bring your own laptop and come ready to use whatever data tools you like.

Can't wait to see you all there!

A BIG THANK YOU to our sponsor Metis for the space and the happy hour