FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2016
CONTACTS
Nicko Margolies (The OpenGov Foundation) – nicko@opengovfoundation.org – (202) 642-4467
Patrick Corcoran (Office of the Chicago City Clerk) – patrick.corcoran@cityofchicago.org – (312) 744-7404
Press Release
Announcing Envision Chicago: High School Students Improve Their City and Win $1,000 Scholarship
CHICAGO, IL (March 11, 2016) — Envision Chicago is a new initiative for students in four Chicago Public School high schools to share ideas to improve city laws, have a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship and engage their Alderman on a legislative proposal in the City Council.
The OpenGov Foundation is joining Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, four Chicago alderman and local teachers to announce the scholarship contest. Envision Chicago will engage students in the governance of their city and turn their interests into actionable civic participation, check it out at ChicagoCode.org/Envision
This inaugural round of Envision Chicago is available to students in select classes at Marine Leadership Academy at Ames in the 26th Ward, Chicago Excel Academy of Roseland in the 34th Ward, Taft High School in the 41st Ward and Lake View High School in the 47th Ward. A $1,000 scholarship is available to the most promising idea in each school as determined by a panel. The winning student’s alderman will work to engage them in how the policy could be introduced in the City Council. The sponsors for the inaugural Envision Chicago round are Microsoft Chicago, The Smart Chicago Collaborative, Haymarket, ComEd and Comcast.
“Envision Chicago is all about connecting young Chicagoans to their laws, to each other and to their elected officials so that they can together build a stronger city,” said Seamus Kraft, Executive Director of The OpenGov Foundation. “A thriving, 21st century community cannot exist without informed citizens working in partnership with their elected officials.”
“As Clerk, I am constantly trying to promote civic engagement and the best way to do that is to get young Chicagoans involved when they are young,” Mendoza said. “We are giving students direct access to the Chicago City Council because learning about our elected officials and how government works is the best way to affect positive change and innovative policy in our City.”
“Chicago’s youth often feels as if they are disconnected from the laws that govern our city,” said the 26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado. “Envision Chicago gives students a chance to experience legislation with ease. It also provides them with the opportunity to use technology in a way that may show us a thing or two.”
“I’m tasked with moving governance forward for residents of this great city. Politics is an often under represented career choice for many youths,” said the 34th Ward Alderman Carrie M. Austin. “Envision Chicago is a timely civic website whose time has come. It’s designed to empower today’s student with civic understanding. It teaches the art of policy making hands on. I’m therefore confident students who know more make better choices. Envision Chicago is an important and necessary sponsor for government involvement. I welcome my area schools to make this life changing tool a part of their daily world. It just may find us the next public servant, advocate or astute voter!”
“It is important that we encourage our City’s youth to participate in local government,” said the 41st Ward Alderman Anthony Napolitano. “Envision Chicago is a great way to spark their interest. They will have the opportunity to work directly with the laws that affect them most. You never know, this hands-on approach may even inspire a future alderman”
“I am excited to partner with the OpenGov Foundation, City Clerk Susana Mendoza, and my fellow aldermen on Envision Chicago,” said 47th Ward Alderman Ameya Pawar. “Through this groundbreaking program, Lake View High School students will have the opportunity to use the latest technology to raise their voices in support of what matters most to them in our city government. I hope that this is just the beginning for the use of this innovative platform in city government, and I am looking forward to reviewing the proposals.”
“The Chicago Public Library is excited to support Envision Chicago and its goal of helping young Chicagoans access, understand and engage with their city council,” said Brian Bannon, Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library.
“Young people are uniquely capable of developing meaningful solutions to the issues they directly experience, yet are often overlooked in the decision-making processes that govern their lives,” said Lisa Kim, the Youth Commission Director at Mikva Challenge. “The face of civic participation is changing—there are growing opportunities for us to reshape how citizens interact with their government. By ensuring equitable access to these channels, civic tech may unleash a new way for under-heard voices to be co-authors in the policy-making process itself.”
“We at The OpenGov Foundation are honored to be helping to bridge the gap between students and their local government, with the best and most cost-effective policymaking technology possible,” said Kraft. “I cannot wait to see the bright future students envision, and to watch those ideas become real policy proposals. This is a fantastic model of modern municipal government that we hope to bring to all 50 wards, and that every city should follow.”
Envision Chicago introduces students to the laws of Chicago through ChicagoCode.org, the city’s first open data edition of its municipal code. ChicagoCode.org showcases the city law with inline definitions for legalese, the ability for anyone to comment and a more user friendly format. With this improved access, students can see the rules that govern them and offer ideas to laws they deem outdated or ineffective. The ideas will be submitted to the selection committee including the alderman representing the school’s ward, the City Clerk and The OpenGov Foundation. Learn more at ChicagoCode.org/envision
The OpenGov Foundation is committed to bringing together civic engagement and modern, open source technology in Chicago. This student scholarship initiative is a part of the organization’s larger commitment to build 21st century lawmaking through the partnership with the Chicago City Clerk’s office.
About The OpenGov Foundation
The OpenGov Foundation is a fiercely nonpartisan nonprofit helping people participate in the government decisions that affect their lives. We believe innovative technology and open data can help deliver democratic governments that listen to citizens, operate efficiently and solve our shared challenges the smart way. We believe democracy means everyone should have the chance to be a hands-on contributor.
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