A second city in Michigan will work with students in the U-M School of Information to identify ways to use technology to foster citizen engagement.
Ferndale will partner with graduate students in the Citizen Interaction Design program. Now entering its fourth year, the program connects municipal governments with student teams who work collaboratively on information projects identified by the communities.
In 2013, Jackson became the first CID partner community. Over the course of the three-year agreement, nearly 100 students worked with city departments and community organizations to complete 25 projects, including the first open data ordinance in Michigan, an anonymous texting service for police tips and an innovative information campaign for downtown construction.
Ferndale city councilman Greg Pawlica, who initiated the conversation between the city and the U-M School of Information, is looking forward to the partnership.
