Open data enables us to access and reuse information from our governments freely. It restores civic participation at a time when we are more disconnected than ever with our leaders. But it is up to us to get involved.
Laurenellen McCann is the Sunlight Foundation’s National Policy Manager, working to help build, expand, and support transparency and, in particular, open data initiatives around the country and the world. She leads Sunlight’s work on state and local issues. Laurenellen also directs Sunlight’s largest annual community gathering, TransparencyCamp, an “unconference” for knowledge exchange between open government advocates that’s inspired similar events across the globe.