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Code for America (CfA) is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco. Its flagship program is an eleven-month fellowship that places professionals from a variety of backgrounds in local governments to leverage the power of the web to better serve constituents. The City of Oakland is one of 10 municipalities that will participate in the 2013 national fellowship program. Through a competitive process, Oakland was selected for its commitment to engaging a motivated community, as well as its forward-thinking approach to openness and government transparency

The fellows are here this month while they work with City staff and the community to identify needs, leading to the development of new apps and tools that will bring greater openness, efficiency and participation to local government. Their focus will be on two subject areas which are a common challenge for local governments nationwide: public records requests and contracting/procurement. These projects will make it easier for Oakland citizens to access the information they need and foster a more direct dialogue between residents and City Hall. In March, the fellows will return to Code for America headquarters in San Francisco to develop their ideas for implementation later this year.

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Code for America Website