Depending on your background and experiences, the terms “Hacking” and “Hackers” may have a positive or negative connotation, but a common theme is the use of systems, gear and other resources to accomplish things that might be different from their intended use. Whether it’s making something new or repurposing something in an innovative way, hacking is a creative act – and one we’ll have several opportunities to get involved with over the coming months.
CODE 66
While we’ve had many jams and sprint-type events, the region hasn’t yet seen a ‘traditional’ 48 hour hackathon. That changes next weekend (7/13-15) with Code 66, the first Albuquerque Hackathon. Teaming up with ABQ Sprout, the Albuquerque Lean Startup Circle, Albuquerque WordPress Meetup Group, httq, Quelab, Rio Grande ACM SIGGRAPH, Rio Grande IGDA and others, and hosted by Southwest Cyberport, Code 66 is an opportunity for bringing people together to create apps, software, sites and more in a high energy low-risk environment. Find out more at http://code66abq2012.eventbrite.com/
HACKING GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT DATA & CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
While Government really shouldn’t need to be ‘hacked’ there are several initiatives where technologists and engaged citizens in general can get involved. Code for America recently launched its Code for America Brigades “Open Impact” program (info at http://brigade.codeforamerica.org/pages/openimpact-citizen) providing tips and other resources for getting involved and making things happen.
The City of Albuquerque has launched its own ABQdata initiative to increase the availability and use of public data developed by the city (more info at http://www.cabq.gov/abq-data). Albuquerque will soon launch its own mobile apps challenge and is planning an open government event this November. Can we as a community help improve access to data in useful ways that improve the city as a whole?
New Mexico First is a bipartisan statewide organization dedicated to citizen participation in the policy arena through their town halls and consensus process. Their next Town Hall on August 3rd is of particular interest to the technology business community as it develops “recommendations to ensure all New Mexicans have access to the internet, and that broadband is used effectively to grow our economy and meet community needs.” Find info and registration at http://nmfirst.org/events/statewide-broadband-summit
In Santa Fe, the city and community partners plans to involve area citizens in their RE:MIKE event the weekend of September 20-23rd. The weekend is designed to bring people together to envision a new future for the St. Michael’s Drive Corridor with a “Pop-Up Previtalization” event. Sign up for info at http://remikeable.com/
Want to be informed about Open Data and Government events and activities? Update your email preferences to include the Open Data/Govt interest – or sign up if you haven’t already at http://eepurl.com/fXxw5.
WORDCAMP ALBUQUERQUE / WORDPRESS HACKATHON / NM GAME JAM
The weekend of August 24-26th is going to be big as we see the 2nd annual WordCamp Albuquerque conference, a half-day WordPress Hackathon, and the 4th annual New Mexico Game Jam (with sites in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and maybe more). Whether you design or develop sites, need to have them developed or want to create your own games, this is the weekend for you. Findo out more at http://2012.albuquerque.wordcamp.org/ and http://nmgamejam2012.eventbrite.com/
Can we create the New Mexico we want to see? The future is in our hands.
