Chicago's weekly event to build, share & learn about civic tech
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#581 In-person and Online: Every life counts: tracking opioid overdose deaths on the CTA
In order to understand the scope of a public health crisis, you must count the dead. While the Medical Examiner's Office does track the number of opioid-overdose related deaths that occur in Cook County every year, no city department tracks how many of those deaths occur on the CTA, including the CTA. This matters, because while the majority of overdoses that result in death in the county do occur in private homes, the ones that happen on the CTA-where hundreds of unhoused Chicagoans shelter every winter--are visible, public, and thus present more opportunity for reversal. According to Katie Prout of the Chicago Reader, 158 people died from overdose on the CTA between 2018-2022. That number is likely an underestimate. For her talk, Prout will discuss how she came to those numbers, how other cities (and transit agencies) across the U.S. are tracking those numbers, and the questions that remain.
Details TechNexus Livestream @ 6:30pm Agenda
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#580 Online: Borderless Investigation - Inhumane Conditions at Chicago’s Largest Shelter
Some 36,000 migrants have arrived by bus or plane since August 2022. Inside the city’s largest shelter, migrants have detailed harsh living conditions, mistreatment from staff, spoiled food and rampant illness. Three days after Borderless’s investigation, a five-year-old died of Sepsis and other infectious diseases. A second investigation found that early warning signs about the conditions inside the city’s shelter were ignored. Mauricio Peña, Editorial Director of Borderless, will discuss his reporting and the impact it has had.
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Our COVID-19 Policy
Mar 11, 2024 by
CHN Board
At Chi Hack Night we continue to believe in the importance of hosting in-person events particularly in a time where meaningful social life is so vital, but we must work together to do so safely.
Read more »2024 Board Election Results
Feb 15, 2024 by
Elections Committee - Derek Eder, Adam Hecktman, Josh Kalov
On Feb 13th, we held our fifth election for our Board of Directors. We were amazed at the turnout. Of our 28 official Members, 22 attended virtually to cast their votes. Congrats to our elected and appointed Board Members Cameron Sow, Sean Watland, Sneha Jalukar, Michael Chladek, Samantha Goodman, Kyle Dolezal!
Read more »Our 2023 Year in Review
Feb 14, 2024 by
Sean Watland, Derek Eder, and Michael Chladek
Ahead of our fifth annual Member Meeting and Board Elections on Feb 7, 2023, we’re publishing our 2023 year in review to share with our Members and our community (that’s you!). We put on 48 Chi Hack Night events, hosted 35 presentations, held our fourth annual board election, remained financially stable, and updated and set new objectives and key results (OKRs) for our organization.
Read more »Welcome!
Join us remotely every Tuesday from 7-10pm on our YouTube livestream and Slack channel to hear from amazing speakers, and learn by doing! Everyone is welcome!
We are a group of thousands of designers, academic researchers, data journalists, activists, policy wonks, web developers and curious citizens who want to make our city more just, equitable, transparent and delightful to live in through data, design and technology. More about us »
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