Your Parish.
Your Data.
Your Voice.
Join Data Samurai and the East Baton Rouge Parish Library for a series of free, non-partisan community sessions — where residents help shape transparent, accessible civic data tools built for EBR.
Sessions are hosted at library branches as trusted civic spaces — reinforcing the library's role as the community's gateway to public knowledge and transparent governance.
Baton Rouge ranks among the top cities nationally for open data availability — but access alone is not the same as clarity.
Your feedback shapes what gets built — real civic use cases, real community needs, real transparency tools.
This initiative is designed to be replicable across cities — but East Baton Rouge comes first.
Who should attend
These sessions are for anyone with a stake in how East Baton Rouge uses public data.
Whether you're a resident, business owner, public official, or community advocate — your perspective matters here.
All sessions are free and open to the public.
Register directly through the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system. Space is limited at each branch — secure your spot early.
Session format
What to expect at each session.
Every session follows a structured format designed to show, listen, and learn.
Live Platform Demo
See the MVP in action — built on real EBR open data.
- Interactive civic dashboards
- Performance tracking visuals
- Budget transparency tools
Community Q&A
We ask you what matters — and listen carefully.
- What's missing from the data?
- What would be useful to you?
- What helps you make better decisions?
Structured Feedback Collection
Your input goes directly into the roadmap.
- Priority data needs survey
- Usability feedback form
- Open input for additional ideas
What these sessions are (and are not)
Community listening. Not politics.
These sessions are focused on usability, functionality, and community need — not policy debate.
✔ What They Are
- Non-partisan community listening sessions
- Interactive demonstrations of the MVP platform
- Structured feedback and community input
- Focused on usability, systems, and metrics
- Priority data needs identification
✖ What They Are Not
- ✕Policy debates or partisan events
- ✕Political endorsements
- ✕Critiques of specific individuals
- ✕Vendor pitches or product sales
This is about systems, metrics, and civic clarity.
Session calendar
17 sessions across 15 library branches.
Find a branch near you. Sessions run March 16 through May 14, 2025. All sessions are free and open to the public.
About These Sessions
We're building a community tool on top of Baton Rouge Open Data that helps residents understand how the parish operates — covering budgets, public services, workforce, and neighborhood-level metrics across the city, parish, and Metro Council districts. At these sessions, you'll test early dashboards, help prioritize the data that matters most, and ensure what gets built reflects real community needs. We're inviting residents alongside leaders from government, nonprofit, business, finance, public safety, and community development.
Bring your ideas and curiosity — and leave the politics at home.
How your feedback will be used
Your input shapes what gets built.
At the end of this series, we publish a full community report and roadmap — driven entirely by what we hear from you.
At the end of the series, we will:
- Summarize what the community told us
- Publish a public development roadmap
- Outline next development priorities
- Identify governance guardrails
- Clarify long-term sustainability pathways
East Baton Rouge comes first.
This initiative is designed to be replicable across other cities that utilize open data platforms — but East Baton Rouge is where we start, and where your voice matters most.
FAQ
Common questions, answered.
Everything you need to know before attending.
Is this free to attend?
Yes — all sessions are completely free and open to the public. No registration fee, no ticket required. Just register through the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system to confirm your spot.
Is this a political event?
No. These sessions are explicitly non-partisan and are not affiliated with any political campaign, party, or candidate. The focus is on civic data usability, transparency tools, and community need — not policy debate or political endorsement.
What is the MVP platform?
The MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the first working version of Data Samurai's civic intelligence platform, built on publicly available East Baton Rouge Parish data. Sessions give you the first look at interactive dashboards, performance tracking, and transparency tools — and your feedback directly shapes what comes next.
Do I need any technical background to attend?
Absolutely not. These sessions are designed for all community members — residents, business owners, students, advocates, and officials alike. No data science or technical knowledge required.
How long is each session?
Sessions are structured to be accessible and engaging — typically 60 to 90 minutes, including the live demo, Q&A, and structured feedback collection. Exact times are listed in the session calendar for each branch.
Will my feedback actually be used?
Yes. At the end of the full tour, we publish a community summary, a public roadmap, and a report on next development priorities — all driven by what we hear across all 17 sessions. Your input directly influences what gets built.
Can I attend more than one session?
Yes — you're welcome to attend sessions at multiple branches. Each session covers the same core demo and Q&A format, though community discussions and feedback will naturally differ by location.
What data areas will be covered?
Areas of exploration include budgets, public services, operations, and workforce data across the city, parish, neighborhoods, and Metro Council districts. We're working with Baton Rouge Open Data and other key public resources to build tools that answer the questions that matter most to residents.
Register
Find a session. Show up. Shape what's built.
Registration is handled directly through the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system. Find a branch near you and secure your spot.
How to register
- Browse the session calendar above for a branch near you
- Click any Register link to go directly to the EBRPL event page
- Confirm your spot — sessions fill up quickly
- Show up, see the demo, and share your voice
Questions? Reach out to Data Samurai.
If you have questions about the sessions, the platform, or how to get involved beyond attending, we'd love to hear from you.
About Data Samurai
Data Samurai is building a civic intelligence layer on top of publicly available East Baton Rouge Parish data — turning raw information into transparency tools, performance dashboards, and community-facing clarity. This listening tour is how we make sure it serves real needs.