Washington, DC is full of social entrepreneurs. But where are they and how can I find them? What inspiring, game changing, and innovative projects are they working on? Washington, DC needs an internet-based open source platform that can help identify social entrepreneurs so that they can collaborate to help DC government, local non-profits, for-profits, universities, hospitals, community organizers, teachers, parents, students, filmmakers, musicians, artists, and innovators of all ages. How difficult is it to find a group or individual in this city interested in exactly the same project you are working on? An internet platform like this can help individuals interested in social good network with other like-minded individuals or groups. This open source platform will aggregate all the data in a customizable process so that more participants can engage their target audience via the internet and mobile devices.

To provide a user friendly, interactive and up to date guide to (1) District residents, (2) District community/social services providers and (3) District government employees that:

1. Provides current & actively updated information on the provision of services and benefits from both public, non-profit and private entities

2. Allows individuals to search for a type of social service/benefit depending on their need in one easy to access location. Benefit categories could include (but are not limited to):
a. Food resources – food resource guide, pantries, food programs
b. Housing resources – DC housing search, accessible housing resources, homeless shelters, transitional housing sites/programs
c. Medical resources – clinics, mental health services, hospitals
d. Benefits – local and federal benefits (e.g. entitlement programs), Income Maintenance Administration info
e. Jobs – employment info including Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Employment Services, TANF employment vendors, supported employment, contextual learning and community providers
f. Clothing/household items – donation locations
g. Transportation: Metro access, MTM, Wehts, WMATA (senior/disability discounts)
h. Case management services: provider organizations, government agencies

3. Allows individuals to search for information about:
a. providing entity/organization
b. the location of the benefit (e.g. my neighborhood feature)
c. how to access the service/benefit – contact info, hours, website
d. the types of services provided
e. eligibility criteria for the services

4. Increases operational public-private-nonprofit collaboration
a. Allow DC government agencies, private and non-profit providers, and individuals to have access to and collaboratively build a shared, robust and easy to search data set.

5. Allows user input/comments on services

KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit in NW DC that promotes play and community built playgrounds (kaboom.org), has highlighted the work of ParkScan in San Francisco (www.parkscan.org), and thinks it would be a good fit for the District. ParkScan is a community-initiated, web-based reporting system that enables park users to report maintenance issues they observe in city parks and playgrounds to the appropriate city agencies that manage them. Observations are assigned a tracking number, which creates an accountable and transparent system for park users and city officials. ParkScan data is also used by the Recreation and Park Department to make budget requests, and by park advocates to get publicity and funding for park projects. With ParkScan, park users would become active partners in the stewardship of DC’s public parks and playgrounds!

The city should create an interactive, public database for vacant and abandoned properties.

It should allow any citizen to report an abandoned or vacant property to city officials. After the city investigates the property, the results of the investigation are posted. This information is linked to the city's GIS databases as well as the tax accessors database to show the property owner, recent tax payments, as well as the tax class (i.e., whether it is taxed for the appropriate use).

This tool would empower citizens to address problem properties, harness citizen reporting for code enforcement, and encourage sale and redevelopment of speculator-owned land and buildings.

For more:
http://goodspeedupdate.com/2007/2134