Announcing: Change by Us Launched in Philly, Now Open Source Software!
Source code and instructions for installation are available for download on Github under a GNU AGPL license. While Change By Us will be available to any city through a not-for-profit open source license, Local Projects and CEOs for Cities are engaging in partnerships with cities around the world to set up, host and maintain the platform.
Launched in partnership w/CEOS for Cities and executed with Code for America, the project has been generously supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Technology and Engagement Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation and The Case Foundation.
“After Change By Us’ successful launch in New York City and now Philadelphia, we are excited to see the code released open source for anyone to use,” said Jake Barton, Principal at Local Projects. “At a time that cities are being squeezed for funds in all directions, Change By Us is a free software platform that turns citizens into collaborators, empowering everyone in a city to make change for good. This triple win for any city costs nothing to install, entices citizens to participate, and creates ample press opportunities to tell stories about positive collaborative change.”
“At Knight Foundation, we seek out the most innovative ideas for using technology to transform the way people engage with their communities and leaders,” said Paula Ellis, Knight’s vice president for strategic initiatives. “Change by Us is great opportunity to put new technological tools in the hands of innovative community members, so that citizen action can be at the center of community change.”
“We’re already proud in New York City that we’ve had the opportunity to partner with Local Projects inshaping Change by Us into a powerful platform for igniting collaboration at many levels. Now that the code has been open sourced, we’re especially excited that it will be that much easier for other cities to use it to ignite civic innovation. We look forward to learning what others are able to achieve with it, and we’re excited about collaborating with them and Local Projects in further developing the platform into one of the defining tools of open government.” Bob Richardson, Director of Strategic Technology Development, NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications.