SXSW Session Proposals of Interest

In 2012, Code for America founder Jen Pahlka was invited to to SXSW Interactive give a keynote address. Every year since, SXSW has presented many sessions of interest to the civic technology community.

Currently, SXSW is soliciting public input on session proposals through their Panel Picker tool. You can vote a proposal up (or down) to show your support (or not), as well as leave comments. Registration is required, but it's free. Even if you haven't registered to attend the event, you can participate in the panel picker.

We'd like to highlight some of the sessions of interest that we know about.

Aug 30 update: Innovation Office proposals added.

If you are aware of any additional session proposals that may be of interest to the local civic tech community, please email us at info@open-austin.org or tweet us at @OpenAustin. We'll post updates as warranted.

Open Austin

Each year for the past two years, Open Austin has hosted a meetup for open government hackers and civic technology enthusiasts. We'd like to do it again this year. To support our proposal, please register for the SXSW Panel Picker and vote it up.

Civic Tech Hackers & Advocates Meetup
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/55660

Austin CityUP

Austin CityUP is a new smart city consortium being formed. We are one of the founding members. There are a couple of interesting session proposals from CityUP participants.

Little Devices, Big Data, Smart Cities
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/56682

Transportation and Mobility - The Austin Angle
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/56757

Digital Opportunities

Our friends at the City of Austin Office of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs have highlighted some panels focusing on digital divide and digital opportunities issues in the local community.

Empowering Low-Income Communities with Broadband
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/50791

Austin: Leading the Way for Digital Inclusion
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/52745

Unlocking the Connection in Public Housing
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/52802

US Mayors Technology & Innovation

The City of Austin Mayor's office participates in the US Conference of Mayors Technology and Innovation Task Force. They have offered some interesting session proposals relating to government and innovation.

Cities: Innovation & Economic Engines
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/56911

Tale of Two Cities: Challenging Urban Disparity
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/56733

Cities 3.0: The Evolution of Smart Cities
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/56776

Disrupt City: Government & Innovation Can Coexist
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/56886

City of Austin Innovation Office

Aug 30 update: The following sessions have been proposed by the City of Austin Innovation Office.

The Lovable City: Scaling Human Connection
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/49934

What Keeps Social Innovation from Scaling: Ego
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/56649

For the People by the People - the Human Algorithm
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/57171

Prototyping Democracy: Better Collaboration Design
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/48724