"Open government" isn't just a buzzword, it's a set of practices intended to empower people to be more effectively engaged with all levels of government -- including locally. Some current initiatives from Code for America offer opportunities for local engagement efforts, and local funders, to enhance the benefits of open government realized in their communities -- from greater civic engagement, to more efficient government processes and innovative uses of local government data.

Code for America is a nonprofit organization that builds open source technology and organizes a network of people dedicated to making government services simple, effective, and easy to use. Last year, CFA debuted their Principles for 21st Century Government -- a living document outlining seven critical ways that governments of any size (or at any level) can better serve their communities through technology. It was last updated online in December 2014.

The principles are:

1. Design for people's needs.
2. Make it easy for everyone to participate.
3. Focus on what government can do.
4. Make data easy to find and use.
5. Use data to make and improve decisions.
6. Choose the right technology for the job.
7. Organize for results.

This is a short, simple document in plain language -- far more philosophical than technical. Each principle is explained in a few brief lines, with examples from local governments. This is a great tool for bringing values into the conversation about government, technology, engagement and local needs

For example, principle #1 reads:

1. Design for people's needs. Government's purpose is to serve residents, and we can do this best when we deeply understand who we're working for. When government services are designed to treat all residents with respect, empathy, and dignity, a transformative trust can be gained.

21st century governments:

• Begin projects by conducting research with real people to understand who they are, what they need, and how they behave.
• Design processes, policy, and services around those needs, continuously returning to residents to get feedback.

Example: In Chicago, new civic apps undergo user research with residents from diverse racial, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds. (See the CFA design standard)

These principles document can be useful in helping to spot and develop local opportunities for open government -- as well as a way to open discussions with local officials to address existing obstacles in your community.

Community news and engagement projects, and local funders, might consider examining how these principles could apply locally -- through coverage, public discussion, and by convening conversations with local technologists and local officials.

These principles were developed through CFA's work with 32 U.S. local governments through its fellowship program, in which CFA sends teams of technologists into local governments to work full-time for a year in partnership with government officials.

Almost all of the CFA fellows have been deployed to major (or at least fairly large) U.S. cities (such as Philadelphia, Detroit, and Tampa, Fla.). However, the principles learned there could well apply to smaller municipal or county governments.

CFA is actively seeking feedback on these principles. Since so far most of the input has come from larger cities, perspectives from smaller cities, counties and towns (with smaller local governments), certainly would help make this project even more robust and relevant. Formulating your community's feedback to these principles might be a goal of local discussions about them.

Want the CFA Fellows to come to your city? The 2015 round of CFA fellowships will focus on applying an iterative, user-centered, and data-driven approach to three crucial areas of local government: health, economic development, and safety and justice. Apply to bring the fellows to your community.

Want to become a CFA Fellow? Applications open in Spring 2015.

CodeAcross 2015: Feb. 20-22: In a few weeks, local "nodes" of CFA will be supporting a weekend of civic hackathons in several cities throughout the U.S. and around the world. CodeAcross 2015, intended to "activate the CFA network and inspire residents everywhere to get actively involved in their community."

CFA's Principles of 21st Century Government is the theme of this year's CodeAcross. CFA is encouraging local events to organize around one or more of the principles. CFA will be offering challenges centered around these principles, which organizers can use at local events.

You don't have to be a coder to participate in CodeAcross. In fact, given the focus on the principles, these events will likely yield better results if plenty of interested people from other fields attend. CFA notes that CodeAcross might be especially appealing to "urbanists, civic hackers, government staff, developers, designers, community organizers, and anyone with the passion to make their city better." (Which echoes the appeal for the Knight Cities Challenge.)

So far CodeAcross events are scheduled in nearly 40 cities. Don't see one listed in your city? It still might be helpful to take the time to attend the event that's closest to you. Or to publicize CodeAcross, to encourage people from your community to attend, to foster a richer network of resources and collaborators.

There's still time to organize a CodeAcross event in your city. Community engagement efforts and local funders can play a convening role in CodeAcross, as well as offer space, sponsorship for refreshments, or play a role in bringing especially influential or innovative local officials or community members to attend or present at CodeAcross. CFA offers many resources for CodeAcross organizers.