BATON ROUGE, LA – February 26, 2021 – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced Friday Baton Rouge’s plans to celebrate 2021 International Open Data Day, held annually throughout the world to highlight the benefits of open data and encourage communities in the development and pursuit of data-driven solutions to civic challenges. 

“Each year, Open Data Day serves as an important reminder of how integral data and technology are to our City-Parish government — from creating efficiencies in delivering daily services and managing programs, to fostering innovation and transparency in all we do,” said Mayor Broome. “This year’s events will yet again provide opportunities for Baton Rouge residents to engage in our open data program, as well as learn from other southern cities and how they are using open data to transform their local governments and communities.”

The City-Parish will host two virtual events as part of its 2021 celebration of open data, both of which are free and open to the public. 

The first session will take place from 6-7 p.m. on March 4, featuring an overview of the City-Parish’s open data program and how Baton Rouge residents can use the various open data, platforms, and tools at their disposal in their daily lives.

The second event, Open Data 2021: Southern Cities, will be held from 9-11 a.m. on March 5. The City-Parish is co-hosting this event with four other southern U.S. cities, including New Orleans, Little Rock, Chattanooga, and Memphis. The regional event will feature Mayor Broome and her counterparts discussing how data is used in their respective cities to drive policy initiatives, improve services, facilitate communication with residents, and more. It will also include a roundtable of each city’s open data leadership discussing their open data programs, how they engage residents in these programs, and how to build a culture of open data, among other topics. 

For more information on both events and to register, visit brla.gov/opendataday.

For more information on the City-Parish’s open data program and other transparency initiatives, visit brla.gov/transparency.