18Aug

Live in Schipol

Schipol isn’t an airport. It is a total living centre.

Not 5 minutes after deboarding, I was chastised by a cheesemonger for denying his overtures to gouda. Glazed over I responded: “um, I need coffee and shower before I can eat.”

Clean showers in an airport are a novelty, which is why I had to pay for the right to feel like a human being after flight. Worth every penny to not be fogged up. I truly have no clue what time it is, but my body is smart enough to think it is late afternoon. (pats back).

Before boarding in Toronto, I met with Carolyn Dunn, CBC’s only Africa correspondent. How is it possible for one person to cover a whole continent? CBC news taught me the world. Patrick Brown reports from Asia and all of the other people. Apparently, with cutbacks investigative journalism and actual foreign correspondence are waning. This makes me sad. Before I met Ms. Dunn, I reviewed some of her Libya reports. She is a storyteller passionate about Africa and the news. So, I used the small window of conversation to learn about Libya via her eyes. I look forward to a day that we can learn more about the real Libyan people. The people she talked about who cleaned the streets, helped their neighbours and banned together to rebuild communities. She talked about the beauty of the people and the architecture. We are so caught up in the big name leader politics in 30 second bytes that these real snippets get missed.

Somehow I managed to find a university student studying GIS in Canada at the airport. Small world. She was returning to Nigeria for a visit. We got to chatting about mapping. I mentioned that I was in contact with a Lagos mapper who built http://lagostraffic.crowdmap.com/. I’ve connected them via email.

So far in Schipol: I’ve had a shower, been to a museum and had a nap in a bank lounge. Well, actually next to the bank lounge as I don’t have the prestigious VIP pass to get a leather couch. They do have swank lounge chairs with foot rests in the mediation area. (free) What amazes me about this place is all the space and quiet corners that you can hide and rest. Not surprising, I have no appetite yet. The airport is large enough that I was able to talk in a circle for about an hour and a half. This helped with the body crumbled feeling.

Shopkeeps are brilliant. I want to buy all the Dutch knicknacks and tulips for my Mom, kid’s toys for the nieces and nephew, some cheese and licorice for my Dad and, well, MAC cosmetics for myself. I don’t need anything and won’t buy, but they make it so attractive. I wonder what the books say about travel shoppers. I will garner that they spend, spend and spend. Everywhere I look hands are full of duty free bags. I was close to prey in Toronto. Lingering over The Shadow of the Wind for a bit, I contemplated buying it. Then, it struck me: I have this book because Mandy gave it to me. The copy has a different cover and is sitting on my table at home. The poor bookseller didn’t have a chance.

h

16Aug

Fashion, makers and postcards

Preparing for my trip to Kenya has been full of teaching moments.

I’ve read books on Africa for N00bs (I simply want to be respectful). This research has lead to surprising discoveries like Nigerian’s love of Don Williams (also a favourite artist of my Dad’s). Who knew about country music in Nigeria?

Fashion and Kenya
To be honest, this post about Vivenne Westwood in Kenya made me wince. I really felt like it was capitalizing on people’s lives. But, then I read deeper:

“The handbags in the lookbook are a part of Westwood’s Ethical Fashion Programme collection, where the iconic label has partnered with the International Trade Centre to provide jobs to over 7,000 women in the Kenyan capital, where they learn to create handmade, ethically produced bags for the London-based label. The project is intended to help provide people in one of the world’s poorest economies with actual skills they can use to maintain a living for themselves and their families.”

The number of people employed is respectable. Not that I could ever afford brand labels, or convince myself to actually wear them, but it made me stop for a minute. With a seamstress for a mother accompanied by hours in fabric shops, I have complete regard for the value of work and responsible clothing production. Innovation and the market place build new economies. My new employer is focused on creating software, but is part of a microcosm into a world of bright people creating with will and imagination.

One thing I have noticed is the shock that people have when I say I work for a tech company based in Nairobi, Kenya. And, the reaction I get from people (mostly strangers) warning me about the dangers of Africa. While I am sure danger is part of the story, I think this is indicative of the lack of awareness about how large the continent is: every city, country and village. Part of me thinks that I am a vehicle to share a different version of the story. I suppose it is like thinking that all of northern Saskatchewan (where I grew up) is full of redneck hicks. Well, yes, there are many fans of Jeff Foxworthy, but they are good people whom I call my family. These are also the first people who will give you a homemade blanket when your house burns down, then help you rebuild. People who are neighours help each other. I think that we need to start thinking about people around the world as neighbours we don’t know yet. For all the information in the world, the Internet and more, we still have so much to learn about each other.

Makers, doers
My Grandfather never bought a new tractor. He taught himself how to fix one and saved money to travel when he retired. On the same premise, my father who has invented gadget and kludges with whatever was laying around the yard or found in a discount bin. Much like Afrigadgets, just the northern Canadian version. We really are a consumer society in North America. It would do us well to think about why we need a special container for our water hose. My dad used a piece of wood and an old piece of metal to make me this:

Ron Leson, maker

We have so much, but does it make us happier? Instead of creating more waste: remake, remix or reuse. With talented parents who sew and build, I feel a bit lost in the maker realm. I don’t actually make anything physically valuable (besides good meals and a pretty garden), but I create connections and community. Maybe in my next act, I will be a maker.

Postcards
Call me old school, but I love postcards. I have a box of postcards from my Grandfather’s travels and a fridge covered with cards from friends. Postsecret is a long time favourite. Whenever I have the privilege to go anywhere, I send postcards to close friends and family. It bridges our imagination and gives an immediate connection to place and to people that a digital space might not. It makes far away places closer and takes people on the journey with you. My Grandfather wanted us to be engaged in our world. And, my mom, the biggest news junkie I know, simply wanted us to understand what part we play in learning about our world. On my fridge, I have a postcard from a coworker who traveled to Kenya long before I even imagined that I would be making this journey. Every day for 3 years I have looked at this postcard and thought: what is my place in the world? This love affair with postcards is not mine alone: The Lost art of Postcard Writing.

16Aug

Map Kibera, Kenya and Ushahidi

A map + GPS + volunteers + development = Map Kibera. My imagination of technology and mapping has been framed by a few strong examples of leadership, especially after meeting Jamie Lundine and seeing her speak at the International Network of CrisisMappers Conference.

Soon, I will have the honour to meet Jamie and her coworkers in the Kibera area. One of their projects, Voice of Kibera, uses Ushahidi. I consider this one of the more important aspects of my journey. Development using technology has its hurdles. Really, it is people who make these amazing projects happen.

Can you help Map Kibera:

Turn Maps into Action: Donate to the Map Kibera Project via Global Giving

Total Funding Received to Date: $1,715
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $2,285
Total Funding Goal: $4,000

Ushahidi: from volunteering to working

When I traveled to Ireland in 2009, I decided that I wanted to live a more meaningful life. For various reasons, I had been holding back on living my dreams and by my values. These are freeing “on paper” concepts. My family worked hard to give me the rich opportunity to do the type of work that inspires. This decision and the journey since has been incredible and, at times, very complex. Volunteering has lead me to find my calling of technology for social good and I work with Ushahidi. Now, I am constantly reminding myself to make sure that I leave time for breathing, while I focus on building community. Coworkers and the greater volunteer community of developers, translators, project managers and idea hackers leave me awestruck on a daily basis. It is motivation to do.more.act, and to take breathing lessons.

Kenya

I arrive in Nairobi on Friday, August 19th and return to Canada on September 3, 2011. While in Nairobi, I will co-work at the iHUB, run a few events, including testing Toolboxes to help deployers, and, most of all, learn as much as possible about Nairobi, Kenya, and Africa. I consider it a privilege to work for a innovative Kenyan company. And, going to Kenya will most likely alter my life as every touch point on this path has done. I am ready. Nervous because it is the big unknown, but excited and ready.

Watching the news and supporting various donation campaigns for the people of Somalia and the Horn of Africa is also on my mind. I have so much respect for humanitarian groups and encourage people to support their efforts to help. Every person can change the world and help their neighbour, even those half way around the world.

Heather

3Jul

Volunteerism is a family affair

Lending a hand in your world and your community is a gift. Volunteerism has always been a part of my family’s fabric. I am so proud of them.

Michelle and Marc Bezanson: World Hope LifeStart Odessa Project
My sister, brother-in-law and a group of friends with their church are traveling to Ukraine in August 2011 to work with affected youth. They are fundraising for the programs and could use a hand. You can donate to the World Hope: LifeStart Odessa project (please add “Marc and Michelle Bezanson WHC team members”)

Michelle’s volunteerism in Haiti a number of years ago and her tearful phone call on January 12, 2010 inspired me to join the CrisisCamp and CrisisCommons movement.

Corrine Olson: John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights Ignite Change Now: Global Youth Assembly 2011
Two years ago, my cousin Cori moved to Bangladesh to teach English, physics and music. Using her experience to change the world, she will hold a workshop on July 29th, 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Workshop: Speak Up and Stand Strong: Debating Water Issues in Bangladesh
This two part-interactive workshop will first increase your knowledge and awareness of water issues in Bangladesh, and the proposed solutions surrounding them. With this understanding in place, you will then be equipped with essential leadership development tools to better enable all participants to debate and “on the spot” public speak about facts and issues surrounding serious problems. You will be expected to stand up, speak, get engaged and be passionate, with the goal of really gaining an understanding of all angles surrounding how human rights come into play when discussing world change through water development.

The Stephen Lewis Foundations’ Grandmothers to Grandmothers social movement includes my rockstar, shy mom. She supports projects including Kazuri (jewelry) and Wavin’ the Flag: Grannies for Drugs:

Every little bit counts, all you need to do is find a project that matters to you and make it happen.

H

3Jul

RHoK 3.0: Toronto Wrap-up

RHoK 3.0: Toronto Projects

Random Hacks of Kindness 3.0 – Toronto was a success due to the volunteers, participants, sponsors, judges and supporters. I am always amazed to see a room full of strangers meet, design and build prototypes for social good. Here’s their great work:

1. Message Carrier
2. Data over Amateur Radio (radio to Ushahidi interface)
3. Wound Classification
4. Not far from the Tree
5. Kit Tracker
6. Bacon – Finding People
7. A Patient reporting app for Drug side effects

The Collaborative Risk Assessment Tool was conceptualized by David Black, a University of Toronto Emergency Manager and RHoK TO volunteer lead). While it was not part of Toronto’s hackathon, a team in Trento, Italy picked up the project and continues to hack on it.

The winner, Message Carrier, went on to present at NetChangeWeek’s GovCamp. The Data over Amateur Radio team set up a Google Group to explore communications with Ham radios during crisis. Yaser Alyounes, Wound Classification, and Aaron McGowan, Not Far from the Tree, teams are also investigating options with their initial RHoK projects.

Event Media and Participant Blog Posts

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/06/03/hackers.fight.climate.change/index.html”>CNN: Hackers Fight Climate Change and ‘Brains Collide’ during Hackathon for Climate Change, Disaster Relief
C’est la vie!: Random Hacks of Kindness
Rock on, Toronto
Humanitarian Innovation and United Nations
RHoK 3.0, A Marvelous Model to Replicate
Ushahidi: My thoughts, suggestions and recommendations
Syncapse Developers Hack for Good
Port 25: Random Hacks of Kindness

5Jun

Competitors build life-saving apps for disasters and emergencies

Competitors build life-saving apps for disasters and emergencies in global weekend challenge

Teams at Random Hacks of Kindness Toronto “hackathon” create new mobile and online tools

WHAT: Hackathon to solve humanitarian problems & pitch competition
WHEN: Pitch competition & judging: Sun., June 5 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Hackathon: Ends Sun., June 5 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), 5th floor, 252 Bloor St. W., Toronto
WHO: Experts in climate, disaster, crisis; software, design, Internet, media, more (see below).

TORONTO, June 5, 2011 /CNW/ – Disaster professionals working with volunteer software makers in Toronto yesterday began building a set of mobile and online emergency aid tools whose prototypes they aim to complete today. This evening, competing teams will vie for prizes in a pitch competition judged by a panel of experts.

The teams at Random Hacks of Kindness Toronto (RHoK Toronto) are among some 1,000 people in 18 cities across 6 continents participating in a global weekend-long hacking marathon, or “hackathon,” that unites technologists and humanitarian experts in an effort to solve pressing problems.

It’s unbelievable that the teams are able to create these mobile apps and online tools in less than 48 hours,” said Heather Leson, lead organizer of RHoK Toronto. “By dinner time last night, one team here had already programmed a working prototype!”

Projects

Competitors at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in downtown Toronto are working on six projects:

  • A mobile app that can use Twitter, Facebook, e-mail and other notification services to deliver emergency messages even when cellular phone networks have stopped working, and can alert rescue workers when someone is alive under a collapsed building
  • A telemedicine tool that would help people in remote or disaster-stricken areas to visually diagnose life-threatening wounds and help them seek treatment
  • An alerts tool that harnesses the emergency response capabilities of the worldwide ham radio community to bridge the digital divide with Internet-based first-responders
  • An app that helps people find and identify food growing in their immediate vicinity
  • A tool that helps relief workers track and manage emergency medical kit inventory in the field
  • A tool that enables people to avoid adverse drug reactions and helps them create a personal digital medical history.
  • The Random Hacks of Kindness volunteer community — founded in 2009 by Google, Microsoft, NASA, Yahoo and the World Bank — has produced mobile and online software tools that were deployed after disasters in Chile, Haiti and Japan.

    Pitch competition Sunday afternoon

    This afternoon’s pitch competition will let the teams in Toronto show off their work — and give the most innovative ones bragging rights,” said RHoK Toronto manager Melanie Gorka. “The best pitches will also win prizes that include a private lunch with leaders at Mozilla, which makes the Firefox Web browser; high speed computer networking equipment from Linksys by Cisco, security software from Symantec, and more.

    The Toronto teams will also be able to receive coaching to develop and enhance their pitch and presentation skills, and consult with special guests who are experts in crisis and emergency aid, before they showcase their projects in front of the pitch competition judges:

  • Jesse Brown, host of TVO.org Search Engine podcast; writer for Macleans.ca, Toronto Life.
  • Paul Osman, Mozilla Foundation. Open Web team manager.
  • Karen Snider, Canadian Red Cross national media manager and social media strategist.
  • Julia Stowell, Microsoft Canada open source community and marketing manager.
  • Special guests:

  • Sara Farmer, United Nations Global Pulse chief platform architect.
  • Kate Chapman, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team. Open global map for aid efforts.
  • Aaron Huslage, SafeCast. Crowdsourced open tracking of reactor-leak radiation in Japan.
  • The best part of Random Hacks of Kindness is that no matter which teams win Toronto’s pitch competition, all the participants learn, mentor and share in their world. Plus, some projects will continue and maybe become fully built,” Heather Leson said.

    ABOUT RANDOM HACKS OF KINDNESS TORONTO:

    RHoK Toronto is an ad hoc committee of civic-minded citizens with professional expertise across a broad range of industry sectors. The first Random Hacks of Kindness hackathon in Toronto was held in December 2010.

    Community partners new and old have donated space, food, funds, prizes, services and tools to help make the event a success. Donations may be made through the RHoK.org Toronto site or by contacting the organizers. Current sponsors include: Camaraderie, Centre for Social Innovation, CIRA, Cisco, GlobalNews.ca, Jonah Group, Lady Atelier, Marketcrashers, MaRS Discovery District, Aaron McGowan, Microsoft Canada, Net Change Week, Nitido Inc., Rightsleeve, Symantec, Syncapse, Tropo, Tucows Inc., University of Toronto and Yahoo Canada.

    RHoK Toronto is online at: www.rhok.org/event/toronto

    RHoK Toronto on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RHoKTO

    RHoK Toronto hashtag: #RHoKTO

    ABOUT RANDOM HACKS OF KINDNESS:

    Random Hacks of Kindness was founded in 2009 by Google, Microsoft, NASA, Yahoo and the World Bank. The worldwide innovation community has seen thousands of volunteers work on 120 open source software projects, including tools used in the Haiti and Chile earthquakes in 2010, the recent Japan quake and tsunami, and landslide-prone parts of the Caribbean. “Open source” means the computer code is available for anyone to use and build upon.

    Global Random Hacks of Kindness community: www.rhok.org

    On Twitter: www.twitter.com/randomhacks

    Twitter hashtag: #RHoK

    For further information:

    OR TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS:

    Melanie Gorka or Heather Leson
    melanie.gorka AT gmail DOT com heatherleson AT gmail DOT com
    Twitter: @melgorka Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/leftbutton

    1Jun

    Prepare to RhoK

    Only 3 more sleeps until Random Hacks of Kindness Toronto.

    I prepared this to help our 90 (!) local participants get acquainted with RHoK and how to make the most out of the event.

    Our RHoK Toronto team is working hard to get all the details prepared. We are talking to folks in Nairobi, Seattle, Bangalore and Melbourne to see if we can have Ustream dates to meet each other

    Global collaboration for a hackathon is a mash-up. More tonight after our pre-RhoK meet-up.

    We are almost at 3rd RHoK from the Sun!

    Heather

    25May

    Ready for RHoK Toronto?

    With just over a week to go, Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) Toronto is gearing up. We have some updates for participants, potential sponsors and supporters.

    What is RHoK?

    Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) is a joint initiative between Microsoft, Google, Yahoo!, NASA, and the World Bank, with the objective of creating solutions that have an impact in disaster management and crisis response. Together they hold semi-annual simultaneous global hackathons (marathon coding events) over one weekend. The event brings together subject matter experts from all over the world in software development, open data, project management, graphic design, videography, emergency management, technology, research, knowledge translation, logistics, just to name a few. Also, see the RHoK global press release.

    Before RHoK

    RHoK Toronto has 50 participants registered. Won’t you Join us?

    Pre-RHoK event for participants:

    We invite you to attend our RHoK Warm-up

    Date
    : Wednesday, June 1, 2011
    Time: 19:00 – 21:00 ET
    Location: Camaraderie
    Address: 102 Adelaide St E.

    Meet your fellow hackers, ask questions about the event and brainstorm on the problem definitions.

    Recruiting Sponsors:

    Our amazing sponsors are providing food and prizes. We are happy to announce CIRA, Jonah Group, Syncapse, University of Toronto and Camaraderie are joining us as sponsors for the second year. Thanks! And, to Marketcrashers/Hackernest for joining us with a prize donation.

    If you are a potential sponsor willing to contribute prizes or donate funds for food, please drop us a line at rhokto at Gmail dot com or contact heather at textontechs dot com for more details. We commit to account and use all funds for the event. As per RHoK Global guidelines, we will donate any unused funds to the Canadian Red Cross.

    In return for your kindness, we can add your organizational name and logo to the RHoK website, include your name in our media outreach, add postings to our job board and provide you with post event blog content.

    Share a Problem Definition:

    The RHoK Global team and our local curation team are working on problem definitions. You can submit ideas on the RHoK site or for either of these two call-to-actions:


    Calling all Health2.0 Enthusiasts for RHoK, June 4th & 5th

    Calling all Climate Change and Open Data Enthusiasts

    RHoK Main Event Schedule: June 4 – 5, 2011

    RHoK Toronto Location:
    University of Toronto
    OISE
    252 Bloor Street West, 5th floor
    Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V5

    Schedule:

    Saturday, June 4, 2011
    8:00 – 9:00am Arrive and enjoy breakfast
    9:00 -9:30 Introductions and Questions
    9:30 – 11:30 Pick your problem definitions and teams. Start brainstorming
    11:30 – 1:00 Lunch
    1:00 – 5:00 Coding, doing, brainstorming
    5:00 – 6:00 Stand-up – Quick Discussion about your team’s work
    6:00 – 7:00 pm Dinner
    7:00 – ongoing (Optional to stay late. Otherwise, we’ll see you the next day)
    Midnight – home

    Sunday, June 5, 2011
    8:00 – 9:00 am Arrive and enjoy breakfast
    9-11:30 More coding
    11:30 – 12:30 Lunch
    12:30 – 3:00 Go teams!
    3:00 – 5:30 Demos and Prizes
    6:00pm End of event

    What to bring:
    laptop, electrical power bar, headphones, phone and charger, video camera, camera, webcam, demo equipment, coffee mug, a smile and an open mind.

    How to prepare:
    Review the problem definitions on the RHoK website. The definitions are still being created, so keep checking back. Please take a moment and familiarize yourself with all the tools available to you online before the main event. Some of the tools we might use to collaborate are: IRC, Skype, Github, Wiki, Google Docs, Ustream, Twitter, Facebook and Piratepad. All hacks created are open source.

    RHoK Toronto needs some help:

    Volunteer run community events always need many hands to make it successful. Here are some ways you can help:

    • There will be errands for food and supplies. Can you help on Friday evening or Saturday for logistics (registration, food delivery, etc.)?
    • We seek a sponsor or volunteer who can provide standard equipment for demos (including mobile devices), a video camera and microphones. This includes some onsite support and set-up. We want the hackers to be heard and to shine. You could really make a difference by lending your expertise.

    The RHoK Toronto team:

    RHoK Toronto is a collective of talented folks working hard to make this happen:

    David Black, Melanie Gorka, Brian Chick, Christine Crowley, Amy Coulterman, Jessica Hazen, James Walker, Aaron McGowan and myself.

    Also, we are thankful for all our supporters who are sending outreach for participants and sponsors. A special thanks to Greg Wilson for everything he does.

    See you soon,

    Heather

    17May

    Help Feed RHoK Toronto Hackers

    What is RHoK

    Random Hacks of Kindness is a community of innovation focused on developing practical open source solutions to humanitarian aid, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. This is about technology helping people. On June 4th and 5th, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, NASA, HP and the World Bank, through their initiative Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK), will bring together thousands of people in over 18 locations around the globe to create open solutions that can save lives and alleviate suffering.

    We would love if you joined us: Register for RHoK 3.0 Toronto

    RHoK 3.0 will focus on the issue of climate change. We’re hoping that this year, RHoK 3.0 Toronto is just as successful as our inaugural RHoK 2.0 in December. Over 50 hackers, citizens, designers, writers, researchers and open data enthusiasts came out in Toronto and joined 1000 others, collaborating with RHoK events in 21 cities and Open Data Hackathon Day events in 73 cities, all around the world.
    We could not have done this without the generous support of our sponsors. Last year, sponsors donated space, food, tools, services and funds which helped make the event a success.

    Help Feed RHoK Hackers and give them prizes.
    RHoK Toronto 3.0 is a Satellite event for the RHoK global event. We are responsible to drum up local sponsorship support for food and prizes. This time, we are looking for sponsorship for a pre-event reception, to provide meals or funding for meals to participants and prizes for the top 3 innovative solutions or ‘hacks’.

    In exchange for your involvement in the RHoK initiative, we will do the following:

    • Showcase your logo internationally on the RHoK global website.
    • Mention you in the media and press releases for the Toronto event.
    • Provide you with space at the event for your pamphlets or promotional materials.
    • Offer recruitment opportunities through our job board and your presence at the event.
    • Provide you with blog content about the event






    Sponsorship Options













    Please let me or our contacts know if you have any questions or suggestions. Any donated funds will be used for food and prizes. Any funds that we do not use will be given to the Red Cross. RHoK global requires that we provide full disclosure on accounting for events. We will happily do so. The Donation button is on Brian Chick’s Left Button Solutions business account. Brian is a core volunteer for this event.

    Hope you can join us.

    Thanks,

    Heather Leson
    RHoK Toronto Coordinator

    8May

    Third RHoK from the Sun: Toronto on June 4 -5, 2011

    Third RHoK from the Sun is almost here.

    We’d love it if you joined us again for Random Hacks of Kindness 3.0. On, June 4 – 5, 2011, Toronto is one of 20 cities for RHoK’s global hackathon.

    Register now!

    RHoK is software developers, open data hackers, project managers, graphic designers, videographers, emergency managers, technologists, researchers, idea hackers, storytellers, technical writers, and logistics geeks. We will brain on solutions for humanitarian aid, climate change and disaster risk reduction.

    Sign up and help us share the message love:

    Steal this tweet:
    RHoK is June 4-5, 2011. Hack on climate change, humanitarian aid & disaster risk reduction apps. Join Toronto RHoK. www.rhok.org

    Ben Lucier created a RHoK Trailer:

    Follow us on twitter: @RHoKto
    Share flickr photos

    If you are unable to attend, we’d love it if you would tell a friend or your workplace.

    We have a problem definition curation team working to make sure the hacks are fun and full of win. Some of the hacks will have gaming or open data components. If you want to help us get prepared, drop me a line. We are fundraising, getting prizes and food donations, procuring tech for demos and organizing a gaming/fun room.

    Toronto has a great team of folks working together to make this event possible. Stay tuned for more details.

    Third RHoK

    This is my third RHoK event (Sydney, Australia (June 2010) and Toronto (December 2010 and June 2011). People hacking away at big issues and building prototypes is pure magic. They collaborate across cities, across career stages and disciplines. The event includes training, braining and laughter. It is a complete honour to be part of a global team of organizers who make it happen.

    See my past RHoK event posts.

    More details soon,

    Heather

    © Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved