San Francisco Citizens Initiative for Technology and Innovation (sf.citi) is bringing together the city’s tech industry, residents and local government agencies to collaborate on innovative policies and solve community problems. The 501(c)6 organization has launched several programs throughout San Francisco by tapping into resources and expertise from tech companies, nonprofits and volunteers.
Gov1 asked sf.citi’s Managing Director, Alex Tourk, a few questions about the organization and its One City initiatives that tackle issues such as public school performance, homelessness and workforce development.
EG: What initially inspired the formation of One City?
Alex Tourk (AT): One City, is the tech community’s new portal to civic engagement in San Francisco. It was developed to leverage the power of the technology community around civic action.
Instead of standing on opposite sides of an imaginary line drawn in the sand, tech workers and members of the larger community need to sit around a table together. For generations, San Francisco businesses have partnered with community service organizations to bring about positive change in this progressive beacon of hope. One City is borne out of this legacy.
One City was developed by sf.citi, the tech community’s non-profit organization in San Francisco. Our first project is Circle The Schools (CTS), which was created by sf.citi, the San Francisco Education Fund and The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Twenty companies joined us for the launch of CTS from Salesforce to Dropbox to Xoom.
EG: What role do you believe the tech sector plays in the future of public policy and sustainable local government?
AT: The tech sector has revolutionized the world with services and products that many of us take for granted -- from getting diagnosis from doctors online to donating money to charities to allowing people to take classes from the best teachers anywhere in the world. It is critical that local government embrace the tools of 21st century and that those in the tech sector help our local governments provide the best service possible.
Improving everything from efficiency, transparency and communication with residents. This is something many local governments could use some help with. A local government that is able to effectively communicate with residents, and a structure that allows citizens to be a part of the democratic process has the potential to improve the way local leaders and city agencies respond to concerns and how citizens engage with their government.
EG: What role do you believe education plays in the future of public policy and sustainable local government?
AT: Improving our education system is paramount to creating better public policy and sustainable local government. That’s why our first One City project is an initiative called Circle The Schools. Making a better local government starts in our classrooms. Not only are public school students benefiting from the added resources and mentorship that the tech community is providing with Circle The Schools, the program also prepares them for a new generation of jobs. We are also hopeful with this effort we are inspiring a whole new generation of community leaders, elected officials, department heads and many other critical roles in the public sector.
EG: What are the short-term and long-term goals of One City?
AT: One City’s first initiative is the Circle the Schools campaign, which partners local technology companies with San Francisco public schools using an adopt-a-school model. After a successful pilot in the spring, the program officially launched this school year with twenty participating companies and schools. Over the course of the school year each company will organize three to five activities with its partnered school. Our goal is to have every public school in San Francisco “circled” by the end of the year.
Long term goals are to connect the tech industry with the larger San Francisco community of activists, elected officials and residents to work together to solve the biggest problems affecting the city, and not just some, but all of its residents. We want One City to be city’s go to portal to civic engagement in San Francisco.
EG: Why are initiatives like One City important right now?
AT: San Francisco is drastically changing. Now is the time to bring people together to work towards common goals. Most companies and San Franciscans want to help their fellow citizens and their city, but some don’t know where to begin or how to get involved. That’s where One City comes in.
EG: What obstacles or barriers did you run into, and how did you overcome them?
AT: The biggest challenge is the scale of the project there are a lot of moving pieces from the online experience of One City to the offline community organizing with companies, schools and students.
EG: How do you envision One City as a model for other nonprofit organizations and municipalities nationwide?
AT: We are leveraging the best online tools and tech companies with established nonprofits. What really separates One City is the flexibility of the program. For example, Circle The Schools has school principals meet with companies and our school leaders let them know what they need for their students. Every school and every classroom is different and they have specific needs. Nothing on this scale has been attempted.