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A public library workshop in session—about 15 adults sit in rows facing a screen that reads “NYC Open Data Ambassadors: Discovering NYC Open Data.” A presenter gestures while another stands by the podium; laptops and bags are visible in the foreground. Photo credit: Jane Swanson / Cornell Tech

Discovering NYC Open Data on Roosevelt Island

Gabby Langston

On Wednesday, October 8, I had the privilege of joining community members at the Roosevelt Island Library for Discovering NYC Open Data. This free, hands-on workshop, part of the Open Data Ambassadors program, was co-hosted by Cornell Tech and led by Laura Hechtlinger, a certified NYC Open Data Ambassador, with support from NYC Open Data’s Zachary Feder. The room quickly filled with curious New Yorkers—local Roosevelt Island residents, students, and library patrons, all eager to learn how to explore the city through its open data. The atmosphere was warm, collaborative, and invigorating, with people asking thoughtful questions and helping each other along the way.

During the class, we explored NYC Open Data’s history, and Laura guided us through the NYC Open Data portal, showing us how to navigate the 311 Service Requests dataset. We grouped the data by complaint type, counted the number of reports, and even filtered by agency and creation date to see what was happening on Roosevelt Island in 2025. Laura also demonstrated how to turn these results into simple bar charts and how to save visualizations in a personal account on the portal.

A presenter at a lectern speaks beside a projected photo of a busy Union Square street scene; participants sit in rows, some taking notes or checking phones, in a bright library space.
Photo credit: Zachary Feder / NYC Office of Data Analytics
A presenter explains a “What is NYC Open Data?” slide showing icons and example datasets; about 15 attendees watch, including one person using a laptop in the front row.
Image by Jane Swanson / Cornell Tech
Wide view of a glass-walled library room during a talk: a speaker stands at a lectern on the left as an audience of adults listens, with bookshelves, ceiling lights, and large windows in the background.
Picture by Zachary Feder / NYC Office of Data Analytics
A community workshop in a library: one presenter gestures beside a slide about engaging with NYC’s civic tech community (logos for Open Data Week and NYC School of Data visible) while another stands at a podium; attendees sit in rows facing the screen.
Image credit: Jane Swanson / Cornell Tech

As we worked, questions flowed: What exactly is an API? Can we join multiple datasets? How does the City maintain this platform, and who’s behind it? It was exciting to see people thinking critically about how NYC Open Data connects to our daily civic lives.

The Open Data Ambassadors program, a collaboration between NYC Open Data and BetaNYC, trains data enthusiasts and community leaders such as Laura to demystify data across the city. You can learn more about the program and upcoming workshops at nyc.gov/discoveropendata.

If you’re inspired to take part in the City’s growing Open Data community, the NYC Open Data Week 2026 call for proposals is now open! Organized by the NYC Open Data Team at the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), BetaNYC, and Data Through Design, Open Data Week is an annual citywide festival held each March to celebrate public data. The week brings together civic technologists, designers, and residents to learn, share, and build with the city’s open data.

One of the cornerstone events during the week is BetaNYC’s NYC School of Data, the festival’s signature conference celebrating open data and community innovation. Call for proposals is also open for NYC School of Data 2026! This year, we’re especially excited to highlight open data projects focused on digital equity, smart cities, and artificial intelligence. If you’re working with data in any of these areas, we’d love to hear your ideas for a session!

Graphic announcement for NYC School of Data’s Call for Proposals. The phrase “CALL FOR PROPOSALS” is repeated twice in alternating blue and orange block letters. To the right, there’s an orange and blue megaphone with the words “NYC School of Data” inside. At the bottom, text reads: “Learn more at schoolofdata.nyc,” alongside the NYC School of Data 2026 and BetaNYC logos.
Graphic on a dark navy background with bold white text: “CALL FOR PROPOSALS.” A speech bubble reads “Learn more at opendataweek.nyc.” Top left shows a colorful arch with a bus; bottom left has a cyclist over a dotted gradient. Logos at the bottom: NYC OTI, BetaNYC, and D×D.

*** Header image credit: Jane Swanson / Cornell Tech ***