Real Talk with Rally Fellows: Caroline Nickerson and Florida Community Innovation
This blog post was written by Caroline Nickerson, Summer ’24 Rally Fellow.
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Florida Community Innovation: Empowering the Next Generation of Civic Technologists to Bridge Gaps in Resource Access
Hi, I’m Caroline Nickerson, a Summer ’24 Rally Fellow with a deep passion for leveraging technology and community engagement to drive social change.
I wear a few hats – I am the Executive Director of Florida Community Innovation (FCI), a civic tech nonprofit that empowers over 50 youth innovators from six different universities and volunteers of all ages to build social services technologies, conduct research, and engage in community service.
Additionally, I serve as a Program Specialist at SciStarter, the world’s largest citizen science organization, where I help millions of people around the world discover real science they can do.
On top of that, I am a PhD candidate at the University of Florida, where I study climate change communication in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.
Through Rally, I wear my FCI hat.
What is Florida Community Innovation’s venture?
Our Rally venture is our Community Resource Map!
But first – some background. As mentioned above, at FCI, our mission is to make a tangible impact across Florida by building impactful tech products, doing research, engaging in community service, and fostering connections that drive social impact.
Our flagship project and Rally venture, the Florida Community Resource Map, will be a dynamic, user-friendly platform that aggregates and visualizes vital community resources, ensuring that every Floridian can easily find the support they need.
We are dedicated to creating a more connected and resilient Florida by leveraging technology to bridge gaps in access and information.
History: How did the Florida Community Resource Map come to be?
The Florida Community Resource Map was born out of a clear need for greater visibility and accessibility of community resources across the state.
We brainstormed the idea at the height of COVID-19 in 2020, with our friends at the Central Florida Foundation. Originally, we were just mapping COVID-19 resources, but they made it clear to us that the problems in Florida and issues with finding the right resources were much bigger than just COVID-19.
The Issue: What are you trying to solve, and why is this social issue important?
We began iterating and scoping the Map. Research from our graduate student partners at Georgetown University confirmed that the Map was indeed a good idea to address the issue of resource access, and students we supported at the University of Florida and the University of Michigan to optimize the designs of the map for social workers on behalf of their clients. Social workers were thought of to be a force multiplier in helping the Map reach the people that need it.
We also got support from American University graduate students to think through the policy implications of different types of Map outreach, including to LGBT+ learners, as well as how the Map could help address food insecurity and be a resource for local governments and other stakeholders.
The Map was also part of the TableTalk initiative with the Central Florida Foundation, and thanks to that effort, we received support to build out a version in Spanish. Soon after, we partnered with other organizations, including the Mount Dora Community Trust, the United Way of Northwest Florida, and the Community Foundation of North Central Florida, to further hone the Map’s offerings.
How it Works: How does the Community Resource Map help solve the issue?
We’re currently piloting the Map in partnership with the University of Central Florida, via community workers they support at the Holden Heights Community Center, before our statewide launch. Working with the inspiring Holden Heights team is transformational for not only the Map, but also the interdisciplinary student team.
This venture was inspired by the desire to democratize access to resources by reducing information asymmetries, ensuring that every individual and organization can easily connect with the support they need to thrive.
Next Steps: What is Florida Community Innovation’s vision for the future?
Florida Community Innovation is actively seeking partners – community foundations, nonprofits, and others – to hone the Map and expand the data offerings on it. We also want mentors to support our interdisciplinary – computer science, political science, and more – students who are building the Map and piloting it with communities. Go to https://floridainnovation.org to join the team!
On left: Caroline Nickerson, FCI’s executive director, at one of the data walks FCI has hosted. This one, in 2023, connected the public and City of Gainesville public servants to discuss data visualizations that FCI students made using the City’s open data portal. The visualizations focused on topics including public safety. Photo Credit: Ikram Loutfi
Looking ahead, our vision for the Florida Community Resource Map is to expand its reach and impact, ensuring that every community in Florida is represented and connected.
As we complete the Rally Fellowship, our focus will be on scaling the platform, enhancing its features, and forging new partnerships to bring more resources online. We are committed to continuous improvement based on user feedback, and we plan to launch targeted outreach initiatives to ensure that the Map is utilized by those who need it most.
Our ultimate goal is to make the Florida Community Resource Map an indispensable tool for social change, helping to build stronger, more resilient communities across the state.
