Kel W.

This literature review draws lessons from local, national and international initiatives that leverage data to promote equity. The review applied these insights to the City of Toronto Black Community Data Governance Framework we authored with Black Health Alliance and released earlier this week. Like the Framework, this literature review is authored by Jemal Demeke Fiqir Worku, MSc Mercedes Sobers Brenda Roche Paul Bailey and Dr. Kwame McKenzie. https://lnkd.in/gH8jsfD8

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Meeting Citizens’ High Expectations Requires Open Dialogue and Clear Planning In the world of municipal government, we constantly face the challenge of meeting the high expectations of the citizens we serve. Balancing quality service delivery with limited resources is not a new challenge, but it’s one we navigate year after year; often doing more with less. However, at some point, the bill comes due. To manage these expectations effectively, open, honest, and civil dialogue is essential. We need to have clear conversations about what’s possible, what outcomes are expected, and what resources are required to achieve them. Transparency in planning and execution ensures that citizens know exactly what to expect and how we are working to deliver. But what happens if we don’t have that dialogue? If we jump from issue to issue in a vacuum, without collaborative discussions or clear expectations, we risk falling short of our goals and undermining trust. Thoughtful, inclusive planning and open ans honest communication is crucial for long-term success. Let’s keep pushing forward with realistic, transparent strategies to ensure the government-community relationship remains strong and productive.

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Very interesting points made here. It’s true that for someone of Gen X, that we have had exposure to many different ways of working and experienced shifts in work culture throughout our careers. The changes for September are nothing new to me and I was sure we would get back to this proportion of time spent in the workplace. I recognize that its not calm waters ahead and I am focussed on offering support to those that are challenged by change and investing my energy to ensure our team feels supported and has the tools to be productive. We could spend our energy on complaining but frankly, it’s going to be to an unsympathetic audience. I’m going to choose the positives, like how nice it is to have quick exchanges with colleagues and connect with people in person. #202425Goals finding new approaches to making time in the office more purposeful.

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We worked with Digital Governance Standards Institute | Institut des normes de gouvernance numérique to pave the way for a more streamlined planning and development system to get shovels in the ground faster by establishing voluntary common terminologies for use across Ontario. Learn more about the new standards at: https://lnkd.in/gEqeMUjh

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Today we will hear about enormous and desperately needed funding coming to health, but actually it is what local authorities do that will really matter - and how health and local government work together. Three minute read

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Has anyone made a PMBOK adjusted/corrected for government projects, wherein there are many added “human” factors that don’t often exist in business/tech contexts. Also where you have positive and negative stakeholders, thus it’s not just important to be taking information and feedback from those engaging/utilizing the project but also from those who may have various reasons to oppose a project unrelated to any actual function or tangible aspect of the specific project? Like going through the PMBOK (I got bored on Tuesday) a number of things jumped out at me that make it almost antiquated or naive when it comes to public projects. Like from a technocratic/administrative perspective it tracks, but if you have ever actually been involved in getting a bill/program passed or a project approved and funded within government space it has a number of areas where giant potential walls are not anticipated or where undue frustration and failure would be prone to occur by following busines best practice.

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Just wrapped up an insightful panel discussion on “Navigating Digital Public Infrastructure: How to Get Started and Tap into Resources Leveraging DPI Implementation.” I shared Lesotho’s journey in driving DPI, the challenges we've faced, and how we are leveraging GovStack and CDPI to overcome them. We’re prioritizing key areas like digital ID to enable real-time online transactions, verification, and eKYC, as well as government-to-citizen payments and vice versa. Additionally, we've identified critical use cases aligned with national priorities, including agriculture extension services, online payments, home affairs services, traffic services, and social grants disbursement. I was joined on stage by distinguished representatives from Eswatini, Colombia, Egypt, UNICC, Uganda, Guinea, and the Dominican Republic. Together, we explored solutions to drive development and enhance public service delivery. #dpisummit #DigitalTransformation #DPI #GovStack #Innovation #Lesotho #PublicService

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How are Ontario's community development stakeholders re-imagining "people, process, policy, and platform" to solve the province's affordable housing crisis? http://ow.ly/s7hw50LLe81 #govtech #stateandlocal #governmentIT #localgov #publicsector #StateLocalIT #Permitting

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How are Ontario's community development stakeholders re-imagining "people, process, policy, and platform" to solve the province's affordable housing crisis? http://ow.ly/s7hw50LLe81 #govtech #stateandlocal #governmentIT #localgov #publicsector #StateLocalIT #Permitting

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The Enabling Accessibility Fund - Small Projects Component is now accepting applications! This funding opportunity, offered by Employment and Social Development Canada, aims to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities across communities and workplaces nationwide. Key Details: Application Period: July 23, 2024 Funding Amount: Up to $125,000 for projects lasting up to 2 years Who Can Apply: Not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, indigenous organizations, municipal and territorial governments Make a Difference Today: Whether you're improving access to community activities, programs, services, or employment opportunities, your project can create meaningful change. Act now to empower persons with disabilities and build a more inclusive Canada! Apply Now and Transform Accessibility: https://lnkd.in/gusAcXx #Accessibility #FundingOpportunity #InclusiveCanada

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Are you a small or medium-sized Ontario business interested in adopting technology? Ontario Centre of Innovation’s Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP) program stream has reopened for applications until the funding is exhausted, so please apply ASAP! I'm happy to help you every step of the way! The Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP) program supports Ontario SMEs as they strive to better understand their organization’s technology needs, guide their digital transformation, and optimize their technology investments. Through DMAP, your company’s work with a Digital Adoption Consultant is supported to generate a Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan tailored specifically to your organization’s digital needs. BEST SUITED FOR: - SMEs looking to understand their digital needs and then adopt and implement digital technologies to grow their company - Ontario-based for-profit SMEs with between 1-499 employees Please reach out to me ([email protected]) to learn more and see if this program might be a fit for your business's project. Digitalization Competence Centre - Ontario Centre of Innovation (oc-innovation.ca)

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Are you a small or medium-sized Ontario business interested in adopting technology? Ontario Centre of Innovation’s Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP) program stream has reopened for applications until the funding is exhausted, so please apply ASAP! I'm happy to help you every step of the way! The Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP) program supports Ontario SMEs as they strive to better understand their organization’s technology needs, guide their digital transformation, and optimize their technology investments. Through DMAP, your company’s work with a Digital Adoption Consultant is supported to generate a Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan tailored specifically to your organization’s digital needs. BEST SUITED FOR: - SMEs looking to understand their digital needs and then adopt and implement digital technologies to grow their company - Ontario-based for-profit SMEs with between 1-499 employees Please reach out to me ([email protected]) to learn more and see if this program might be a fit for your business's project. Digitalization Competence Centre - Ontario Centre of Innovation (oc-innovation.ca)

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Today, our CWiT community attended the Public Sector Women in Leadership Conference 2024, a powerful forum focused on addressing the persistent barriers preventing women’s full participation in leadership roles within the public sector. The discussions were eye-opening, as leaders and advocates from across government and the public sector came together to shine a light on critical issues still holding women back. We explored challenges such as lack of financial support, access to affordable childcare, navigating male-dominated cultures, and the biases present in recruitment and selection processes. Among the inspiring speakers were: Aimée Kelly Director of Public Sector at Cpl, Roisín Duffy Chairperson of Women on Air, and CWiT’s own Sabrina Staunton, Women in Tech Ireland Chapter Director and Executive Coach, who all shared their powerful perspectives on mastering self-promotion and other strategies for career success. The summit was a great opportunity to not only reflect on the progress made but to also spark meaningful conversations on how we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in public sector leadership roles. Looking forward to seeing how these discussions translate into action as we continue to break down barriers and pave the way for future generations of women leaders. #WomenInLeadership #PublicSector #GenderEquality #LeadershipDevelopment #DiversityAndInclusion #WomenInTech #CWiT #PublicSectorWomen #LeadershipConference

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The use of #AI in health is one of the main topics of conversation (and in every sector) so it is exciting to see a pilot project here in Ottawa. One of the big questions is where will AI help create efficiencies and where will actually add burden. Interested to see the results! https://lnkd.in/gCdkzmZB

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Learn more about funding goals for the nonprofit sector throughout Canada!

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An important read for decision makers as we navigate the risks of #AI especially in the Canadian context as we stand-up the AI Commissioner and rollout the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act.

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Yesterday, I had the privilege of hosting the Local Government Management Association (LGMA), Foundations of Local Government Series - Records Management (module 10) with my excellent colleague and friend, Cristhel (Jing) Fernandez, CIAPP-C. We had a blast, as always. 🚀 Talking and laughing about our favourite topics, having some Menti fun, and mythbusting IM, including: ✅ the challenges of our current state of information management (IM) in local government ✅ ISO 15489, CGSB 72.34, FOIPPA definitions and standards for recordkeeping ✅ how organizations stay healthy and ACE performance in Accountability, Compliance, and Effectiveness with good IM ✅ managing ‘master’ records versus ROT (redundant, obsolete, transitory/trivial records) and your role in taming chaos by managing your information footprint ✅ retention schedules as a useful resource to understanding the value, legal requirements (if any) and lifecycle management of records, including archives ✅ how retentions are developed, appraisal considerations, legal vs. non-legal retentions (most are not legal and can be adapted to organizational needs) ✅ managing administrative vs. case records in digital environments like SharePoint, retention triggers, business vs. IM metadata, rules-based recordkeeping and EDRMS ✅ modern records management, ‘born digital’ stays digital, and defensible digitizing practices Thank you to all attendees and to the LGMA for having us (again)♥️. Looking forward to next year’s session and cohort. Big thanks to Ana Fuller for your support. #informationmanagement #localgovernment #digital #givingback #volunteering https://lnkd.in/gMQGrpdi

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Ima Okonny's insights on transforming public services through data are enlightening. In this Public Sector Future episode, she outlines the importance of a strong data foundation, data literacy, and responsible AI. Her practical examples, like using NLP to identify vulnerable citizens, showcase the real-world impact of data-driven initiatives. A must-listen for public sector leaders seeking to harness data for positive change. #dataforgood #publicsector #AI #dataliteracy

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