BEYOND GIVING & VOLUNTEERING

How individuals are using technology and data to support vulnerable populations

Trina Isakson@telleni

THIS IS NOT ABOUT…• How vulnerable populations are/are not

using data and technology

• How nonprofit organizations and governments are using data and technology for social good

COMMON LANGUAGE• Crowdsourced

• Crowfunding

• Hackathon

• Application

• Open data

Consumerism

Technology and data

InvestmentsBusiness

owner practices

Consumerism

Technology and data

InvestmentsBusiness

owner practices

Technology and data

Technology and data

• Hackathons and collective initiatives

• Mobile and web applications

• Open and crowdsourced data

• Digital advocacy

Technology and data

• Hackathons and collective initiatives

• Mobile and web applications

• Open and crowdsourced data

• Digital advocacy

Consumerism

Investments

Technology that helps people make different investment choices (i.e. crowdfunding)

Technology that helps people make different consumption choices

WHY STUDY THIS?Canadian context: bitly.com/beyondgandv

HOW ARE INDIVIDUALS USING TECHNOLOGY AND DATA TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS?

HOW ARE INDIVIDUALS USING TECHNOLOGY AND DATA TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS?GENERALLY, THEY’RE NOT

The database is constantly growing but contains the following base layers:

Reserve Name, coordinates, population, etc.

ICT coverage (broadband, internet, cellular, and telephone)

Water Treatment Information (coverage, population serviced, quality, type of treatment, etc.)

Wastewater Treatment Information (coverage, population serviced, quality, type of treatment, etc.

Boil Water Advisory Information (historic and current, risks, and population affected)

Census Data

Montréal Accessible

HACKATHONS OFTEN SUFFER BECAUSEThere is little focus; reliance on general ‘ideas’

Data often is good for action, less for policy and social change

Participants are usually not social scientists, do not have lived experience, or are not the intended user

Little to no ongoing support after event

HACKATHONS OFTEN SUFFER BECAUSEThere is little focus; reliance on general ‘ideas’

Data often is good for action, less for policy and social change

Participants are usually not social scientists, do not have lived experience, or are not the intended user

Little to no ongoing support after event

HACKATHONS COULD BE BETTER IFThe challenge is made specific and arises from lived experience

The data is good and deep

Design encourages more diverse participation

There is a plan for ongoing support for implementation and future changes

There are over

40 Canadian

crowdfunding sites in various stages of development.

CLICKTIVISM

DRIVERSInterest

in all things ‘local’

Increased belief in

responsibility of business to play a role in social good

Young people taking action

In addition to / correlated

with giving and

volunteering

CHALLENGESLack of awareness among individuals

Uncertainty and fear among

potential supporters

Lack of capacity and interest among

charitable sector

The activities that draw interest are

not necessarily the ones that have

impact

TAKEAWAYS① Nonprofit and tech folk: get to

know each other

② Try a non-tech hackathon

③ Don’t operate in an ‘echo chamber’

MINI-HACK• Start with a question or challenge that, if answered, would

move your mission forward.

1. Can we clarify the question? Is it specific enough?

2. Who would we need in the room for a hackathon?

3. What good data or other resources could help us?

4. Is it possible for participants to have transformational, experiential learning regarding the challenges that are being addressed?

5. How can we ensure the results of the hackathon live on?

• Rely on the nonprofit person or person with lived experience as a key source of information.

CONTACT• Trina Isakson

• @telleni

• trina@27shift.com

• Links and slides: 27shift.com/nettuesday