Florida Community Innovation

We are excited to annouce a data-driven dinner in Gainesville, FL on April 9, all about why data can be a force for good. RSVP and/or apply to give a lightning talk: bit.ly/datadrivendin

Grad student Isabella Jaramillo interviewed FCI freshman-intern-turned-board-member Rhiannon O'Donnell about her journey into community-centered technology for a new spotlight article. Check it out! floridainnovation.org/2026/03/12/whe…

Today, we celebrate our public affairs lead, Leila!

The EMERGE NASA Data Hackathon on January 31 from 8 AM - 8 PM at Marston Science Library will bring together Gators and community members alike to work with real GLOBE Observer data on mosquito risk and environmental health. All skill levels welcome. geoemerge.com/nasa-at-uf/

Join us for Chengyu for Change—a bilingual art workshop + zine launch exploring ecological wisdom! 📅 Dec 4 | 5:30–7:15 PM 📍 Miami Beach Regional Library Register: mdpls.org/event/15047877 Featuring art inspired by Chengyu (成语) 50 free environmental zines for Art Basel week!

Mintify is a student organization affiliated with @umsi, focused on user experience and user interface design. They've partnered with FCI, and they'll be spending the next few months scoping new parts of floridaresourcemap.org. We're excited to get to work!

🕸️ The Halloween SciStarter Newsletter is here... and it’s spooktacular! 👀 Here’s what’s inside: 🪳 Never Home Alone (@inaturalist) — discover the secret world of indoor insects! 🐍 @HerpMapper — record snakes and frogs to support global conservation. 🪦 GoBituary (@FLInnovation) — uncover hidden histories in cemeteries like Miami City Cemetery. 🚗 Roadkill Reports (@Anecdata_org) — help make roads safer for wildlife. 🐝 ZomBee Watch — join the hunt for “zombie” honeybees! 💡 Plus: 🎬 SciStarter LIVE: Halloween Edition – Never Home Alone Rewind 🎉 Acts of Science: Connected — our new series leading up to America’s 250th birthday 🧩 Trust in Citizen Science Survey 📅 Printable fall event calendar Read the full newsletter and start your spooky science adventure: 👉 conta.cc/47C3L7L

🌟 CityCamp Gainesville 2025🌟 Our first community-led unconference brought residents, students & civic tech leaders together to tackle housing, AI ethics, LGBTQ+ resources, food insecurity & more. Thanks to all who joined! Recap👉floridainnovation.org/citycamp-gaine…

There's still time to register! geoemerge.com/hackathon-data… @FLInnovation @BrowardLibrary @GLOBEProgram

CALLING ARTISTS We’re looking for 2D art inspired by Chengyu about nature, climate, and harmony across time and place. Submit by Sept 8, 2025: bit.ly/chengyuforchan… Guidelines: bit.ly/chengyuforchan…

📣 Attention #Floridawriters! Do you have a passion for uncovering stories that shape the Sunshine State? Join the ranks of other acclaimed writers and submit a story for a chance to be published in our award-winning magazine FORUM! Submit your idea: bit.ly/4eXOgtb

**note: for this particular volunteer opportunity, we are looking for only one, very experienced volunteer! This is different from our normal model of training students** (3/3)

You'll directly impact communities by ensuring essential resources reach those in need, using AI for good. Email info@floridainnovation.org to join us. (2/3)

Looking for Python and AI experience? Volunteer 5-10 hours per week remotely at Florida Community Innovation creating an AI agent to automate data collection for the Florida Resource Map. (1/3)

🚨 Join us TOMORROW for something special! FCI is proud to be part of the first-ever Alliance of Civic Technologists Congress, an unconference open to all interested in building a better future with tech. ⏰ 12:30–6:30 PM ET 📍 Online 🎟️ Free 🔗 RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/alliance-of-…

Earlier this year, Miami nearly scrapped its recycling program, raising alarms across FL. Enter Recyclepedia, a free app being co-developed by #DreaminGreen & Florida Community Innovation to make recycling easier, clearer—even fun. Help us test it: floridainnovation.org/recyclepedia

Mark your calendars now: join Florida Community Innovation’s Civic Hack Day! 🗓 Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025 🕚 Time: 11 AM – 5 PM ET 📍 Location: Online via Zoom 🔗 Register and learn more here: floridainnovation.org/events

Congratulations to the American University students we had the honor of collaborating with this spring! This amazing capstone team was recognized for their work on tech-driven solutions to the homelessness crisis in Florida, earning first place at their school's poster symposium.

This is what networking looks like when you join UMSI’s Alternative Spring Break program. 🌱 These pics are from MSI student Aditi Athreya, part of the UMSI student group spending this week enhancing the UX of @FLInnovation's Florida Resource Map — a tool that helps residents and social workers find support for building healthier, fuller lives. Let's hear it for all of our Alternative Spring Break participants doing amazing work across the nation! 👏

FCI is launching the Gentrification Risk Assessment Tool (GRAT): 📍 Porters Community Farm, Gainesville, FL 📅 Saturday, March 8, 2025 ⏰ 8:30-9:30 AM – Community Dialogue ⏰ 9:30-11:00 AM – Volunteering (planting & harvesting) ✅ RSVP: bit.ly/fcigratevent