Transportation systems are vital to cities and their residents. They connect communities to each other, to local amenities, and to economic opportunities. But these networks can also divide, cutting people and communities off and concentrating adverse effects in some areas while sparing others. Even a quick glance at mid-20th-century urban planning in the U.S. shows how transportation decisions ripped apart Black and brown communities in order to build interstates that better connected white suburbs to downtown cores. We can and need to do better— and data can help. Hear from Replica General Counsel Kiran Jain about one of the most powerful tools public agencies can use to assess inequities in the built environment — and how Replica, a data platform for the built environment, is working with cities to create more equitable infrastructure.

Learn more and RSVP here.

Please join us for a Roundtable Discussion on the "Future of Work" as part of Woodbury School of Architecture's Year of Intelligence.

We will be joined by panelists German Aparicio, a Project Manager at Trimble Consulting; Wayne Thomas, Senior Associate at Gensler Los Angeles; Eera Babtiwale, and Director of Sustainability at Mount San Antonio College. The discussion will be moderated by Kishani Da Silva, Chair of Woodbury's new Construction Management program.

Drawing from their expertise in the technology, architecture and construction industries, the panelists will discuss what the ‘future of work’ could look like with the rise of automation, the use of big data, AI, mixed reality, and other forms of technology.

RSVP here.

Join Next City for a webinar with guest presenter Jen Nelson of Do Good Auto Coalition, who will discuss “How To Use Data To Address Food Access” on Wednesday, October 14 at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

Historically, food relief organizations and the government have not coordinated their efforts in a streamlined way to reduce duplicate efforts for the same goal to provide food to those in need. Although individual organizations have been able to scale food delivery systems with incredible speed, there has been no sustainable model to guide the deployment of resources.

Do Good Auto Coalition (DGAC) is a nonprofit organization that supports car dealerships in lending vehicles to transport supplies and food to those in need.

Back in March, when stay-at-home orders began in Newark, DGAC used their data analysis tool to map by zip code the meals that were distributed by local organizations. Overlaid on these maps were affordable housing information and unemployment claim data. In doing this, the City of Newark was able to identify which areas were most in need.

After DGAC launched the tool, the city of Newark has agreed to share its data with the organization. Since its inception, Do Good Auto Coalition has delivered 667,908 pounds of food. 

“Without data, you are just guessing,” says Nelson. “I am passionate about using my engineering background to help the nonprofit sector use data to amplify their impact.”

Nelson is the Senior Vice President of Do Good Auto Coalition. She has a background in public utilities, insurance, marketing and nonprofit management. Jen is passionate about using data to help solve the logistics of food insecurity.  She enjoys reading, live music and volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader.

Find out more and register here.