CCI is a community-based innovation ecosystem where residents, businesses, local governments, and academia tackle our region’s challenges. We support civic innovation that leads to a more equitable and sustainable community. |
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We’re excited to introduce three interns who have begun working with us. We welcome Donavon Lea, Graham Twente, and Selena Pham as they join our team. |
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Donavon Lea is a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia studying Public Policy and Leadership, and minoring in Bioethics on the Pre-Law track. At UVA, Donavon is Vice President of the Black Student Alliance, Co-President of C.R.A.V.E., and member of the Undergraduate Black Law Students Association, and Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity. He believes that centering the community in our quests for equity is the best thing we can do to shape a brighter future. |
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Graham Twente is a third-year student at the University of Virginia majoring in Public Policy and Leadership and pursuing minors in both Data Science and Social Entrepreneurship. He believes in the power of data to inform policy decisions. Graham’s leadership and policy skills were put to the test this year as a Resident Advisor to first-year dorms, leading a hall of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. He realized that effective policy implementation requires compassionate leadership and hopes to bring a compassionate perspective to data and policy in future endeavors. He is passionate about organizations that improve the wellbeing of children in Charlottesville including Camp Kesem and Project Peanut Butter. |
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Selena Pham is a dedicated, rising fourth-year computer engineering student at the University of Virginia. She is interested in learning programming languages, solving problems, and using computer technologies to help people. Her main interests are Web App development, User Interface design, and Database System Management. In addition to her academic career, Selena has three years of experience in customer service. She worked as a sales associate in Forever XXI and a financial aid assistant at the Northern Virginia Community College. These experiences taught her to communicate more effectively and listen attentively to people to understand their problems. Finding solutions to help others gives her happiness; she is active and creative in many situations. She is excited to apply her knowledge and experience in her internship this year. |
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Fellowship Applications Closing Soon |
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Applications for our 2021 Civic Innovation Fellowship close on Sunday, June 20. This Fellowship program gives innovators the space, network, and support to realize success. Interested in applying? Find out more and apply today! |
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Book Review: Visualizing with Text, by Richard Brath |
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Visualizing with Text (2020), by Richard Brath (Partner at Uncharted Software, Inc.) is an intriguing addition to the data visualization literature. While most data visualization books gloss over the topic of text, Brath’s fertile mind fully embraces the subject. His clever use of text can improve data visualizations and his use of visualization techniques can enhance traditional text. His cross-disciplinary approach offers a fresh perspective that expands the range of design possibilities. |
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The use of text across disciplines Brath introduces the topic by showing the breadth of his vision with text examples in the areas of: cartography, typography, tables, science classification and notation, code editors, alphanumeric charts, art and poetry, graphic design and advertising, comics, postmodern text, and data visualization. It is simply not possible to view these examples without thinking of new ways to incorporate text in design. Brath highlights the advantages of encoding data with text. These include fast decoding, reduced cognitive load, and easy recognition. As an example, use of a legend on a chart requires the reader to go back and forth between the graphic and the legend to understand the chart. When it is possible to directly incorporate the legend into the graphic, the cognitive load on the reader is reduced. A framework for using text Brath identifies the differences between text that is read and graphics. Reading text requires focus to understand a sequential string of words. Visualization leverages our pre-attentive capabilities, where we perceive patterns before consciously focusing. The author bridges the gap between the two modes with a unifying framework. Read the rest of the review |
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Wondering why you're receiving this email? Over the past several months, our organization has been transitioning from Smart Cville into the Center for Civic Innovation. As a subscriber to the monthly Smart Cville newsletter, we’ve brought you along with us into this exciting new phase in the life of our organization. The newsletter looks a little different now because our name and logo have changed, but you can expect updates on our ongoing projects as well as new initiatives as we step into our new role working to empower problem solvers in our community. |
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