{"id":1028474,"date":"2023-03-17T11:35:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T11:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicintegrity.org\/?p=120195"},"modified":"2023-03-17T11:35:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T11:35:00","slug":"chicagos-foia-fest-celebrates-open-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/03\/17\/chicagos-foia-fest-celebrates-open-government\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago\u2019s FOIA Fest celebrates open government"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C100&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?w=2340&amp;ssl=1 2340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dozens of public records enthusiasts gathered Saturday to kick-off an annual Chicago tradition: FOIA Fest, a public records conference created to celebrate Sunshine Week, which ends today.<\/p>\n<p>FOIA \u2014 short for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foia.gov\/\">Freedom of Information Act<\/a> \u2014 is a federal law that requires the full or partial disclosure of unreleased documents and information controlled by the U.S. government. States have similar laws. This tool is used by journalists and citizens to request and obtain documents and data.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>FOIA Fest 2023 was a hybrid conference featuring dozens of panels and a mentorship program for early career journalists of color. The conference\u2019s popularity has grown over the years. Before the pandemic, tickets typically sold out and there was a waiting list. During the pandemic, the virtual conference became even more popular, with hundreds of people attending the three-day conference.<\/p>\n<div class=\"is-layout-flow wp-block-group newspack-pattern subscribe__style-6 is-style-border compress-newsletter has-dark-gray-color has-text-color has-background\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(180deg,rgb(238,242,244) 0%,rgb(166,207,248) 100%)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-dark-gray-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Never miss an investigation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-dark-gray-color has-text-color\">Subscribe to our free, weekly Watchdog newsletter <br \/>to get the latest inequality news from Public Integrity.  <\/p>\n<div class=\"is-layout-flex wp-container-2 wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center\">\n<div class=\"is-layout-flow wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?o():!gform.domLoaded&&gform.scriptsLoaded?window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",o):document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",o)},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook(\"action\",o,n,r,t)},addFilter:function(o,n,r,t){gform.addHook(\"filter\",o,n,r,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook(\"action\",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook(\"filter\",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,n){gform.removeHook(\"action\",o,n)},removeFilter:function(o,n,r){gform.removeHook(\"filter\",o,n,r)},addHook:function(o,n,r,t,i){null==gform.hooks[o][n]&&(gform.hooks[o][n]=[]);var e=gform.hooks[o][n];null==i&&(i=n+\"_\"+e.length),gform.hooks[o][n].push({tag:i,callable:r,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(n,o,r){var t;if(r=Array.prototype.slice.call(r,1),null!=gform.hooks[n][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[n][o]).sort(function(o,n){return o.priority-n.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){\"function\"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),\"action\"==n?t.apply(null,r):r[0]=t.apply(null,r)})),\"filter\"==n)return r[0]},removeHook:function(o,n,t,i){var r;null!=gform.hooks[o][n]&&(r=(r=gform.hooks[o][n]).filter(function(o,n,r){return!!(null!=i&&i!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][n]=r)}});<\/script><\/p>\n<div class='gf_browser_unknown gform_wrapper gravity-theme gform-theme--no-framework gf-newsletter-signup_wrapper' data-form-theme='gravity-theme' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_1' >\n<div class='gform_heading'>\n<p class='gform_description'>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<form method='post' enctype='multipart\/form-data'  id='gform_1' class='gf-newsletter-signup' action='https:\/\/publicintegrity.org\/feed\/' data-formid='1' novalidate>\n<div class='gform-body gform_body'>\n<div id='gform_fields_1' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below'>\n<div id=\"field_1_3\"  class=\"gfield gfield--type-email gfield--width-two-thirds gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  data-js-reload=\"field_1_3\"><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_1_3' >EMAIL ADDRESS<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'>\n                            <input name='input_3' id='input_1_3' type='email' value='' class='large'    aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  \/>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"field_submit\"  class=\"gfield gfield--type-submit gfield--width-quarter field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  data-field-class=\"gform_editor_submit_container\" data-field-position=\"inline\" data-js-reload=\"true\"><input type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_1' class='gform-button gform-button--white  button' value='SUBSCRIBE'  onclick='if(window[\"gf_submitting_1\"]){return false;}  if( !jQuery(\"#gform_1\")[0].checkValidity || jQuery(\"#gform_1\")[0].checkValidity()){window[\"gf_submitting_1\"]=true;}  ' onkeypress='if( event.keyCode == 13 ){ if(window[\"gf_submitting_1\"]){return false;} if( !jQuery(\"#gform_1\")[0].checkValidity || jQuery(\"#gform_1\")[0].checkValidity()){window[\"gf_submitting_1\"]=true;}  jQuery(\"#gform_1\").trigger(\"submit\",[true]); 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And while I stepped down from the board, I\u2019m still involved with FOIA fest.&nbsp; The experience made me appreciate how special it is to have a communal space to teach and learn about public records and share commitment to government transparency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a huge undertaking,\u201d said Olivia Obineme, this year\u2019s FOIA fest organizer, especially during a mayoral election because the organizers are working journalists. \u201cIt shows how important this conference is to folks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Obineme said the conference offers accessible training for anyone wanting to learn more about public records so that they are \u201cable to make more informed choices about reporting practices.\u201d&nbsp; The conference has grown and evolved every year. The goal, however, has remained the same: help journalists and citizens obtain records.<\/p>\n<p>Organizers have seen a change since the first FOIA Fest in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was less attention on FOIA at that time and there were fewer resources available for journalists to get help on FOIA requests. Your only recourse was to sue,\u201d said Angela Caputo, who helped organize that first event with Fernando Diaz and Kristen Schorsch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to set up an event that would give journalists an opportunity to learn about FOIA \u2026 and connect with the people who can help them write better FOIAs and be more successful at getting information,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Caputo invited me to my first FOIA Fest. Back then, I was learning how to become an investigative journalist and deeply appreciated the tips Chicago journalists shared during the conference. In <a href=\"https:\/\/headlineclub.org\/foia-fest\/announcing-the-foiafest-2021-boot-camp-cohort\/\">2021<\/a>, Alejandra Cancino, now with Injustice Watch, and I made an important addition to FOIA Fest by creating a mentorship program for early career journalists of color who lack access to traditional mentorship inside newsrooms. This year, two FOIA Bootcamp alums<a href=\"https:\/\/headlineclub.org\/2023\/03\/02\/announcing-the-2023-foia-fest-boot-camp-fellows\/\"> led<\/a> the program, continuing the self-sustaining model we envisioned.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As Obineme reflects about the future of this community that values transparency, she said the conference could expand further outside the Chicago journalism community. In recent years, more community activists have attended the conference, too.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-foia-is-for-everyone\">FOIA is for everyone <\/h2>\n<p>In Chicago, activists know well that FOIA is a powerful tool that is not exclusive to journalists. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, an undocumented immigrant was shot and was later dragged out of his house by immigration agents and placed in deportation proceedings. The agents didn\u2019t have a warrant. The case worried activist Antonio Gutierrez with Organized Communities Against Deportation because Chicago is a sanctuary city.<\/p>\n<p>The activist used FOIAs to sort out what happened. Through records requests and later through litigation, OCAD discovered the existence of a gang database maintained by the Chicago Police Department. Immigration officials had access to the database, and that\u2019s how agents found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wbez.org\/stories\/federal-immigration-agencies-used-chicago-gang-database-thousands-of-times\/890542e6-78e0-4c6c-982e-c5eb60f79319\">Wilmer Catalan-Ramirez<\/a>. Most of the people listed in the database were Black or Latino, and an audit found that police documented over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/news\/breaking\/ct-met-chicago-police-gang-data-04112019-story.html\">134,000<\/a> people on it, putting them at risk of losing a job, deportation or a more severe sentence after they were classified as gang members during arrest.<\/p>\n<p>Former Inspector General <a href=\"https:\/\/news.wttw.com\/2022\/12\/08\/scrap-plans-new-chicago-gang-database-interim-police-oversight-board-urges\">Joseph Ferguson later determined<\/a> that the city\u2019s gang database was \u201ca deeply flawed collection of gang data with poor quality controls and inadequate protections for procedural rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gutierrez, who oversees strategic development and operations for OCAD, said FOIAs have become an important tool in OCAD\u2019s anti-deportation work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany of us were able to get DACA [the Obama-era directive giving immigrants who came into the country as children legal protection from deportations] in 2012 but it also came with more detention and more arrests of our community,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cWe were no longer in threat of deportation but many of our family and communities were now being placed in deportation, and that\u2019s how we pivoted to anti-deportation work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gutierrez said the group has filed FOIAs to the city of Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement and other agencies. The group has also tried to make FOIA accessible to community members by hosting workshops, with other community organizations, to help residents file their own FOIAs to the police department and determine if an individual is listed in the database as a gang member.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce we found out about the database, we reached out to multiple immigrant rights organizations and also Black-led organizations\u2026 to discuss how we were going to erase this database because it&#8217;s impacting our communities,\u201d he said. \u201cThe FOIAs was the proof that we used around our narrative for the public campaign we were building and the coalition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/publicintegrity.org\/politics\/chicagos-foia-fest-celebrates-open-government\/\">Chicago\u2019s FOIA Fest celebrates open government<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/publicintegrity.org\/\">Center for Public Integrity<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/publicintegrity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MSC8128-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p>Dozens of public records enthusiasts gathered Saturday to kick-off an annual Chicago tradition: FOIA Fest, a public records conference created to celebrate Sunshine Week, which ends today. FOIA \u2014 short for Freedom of Information Act \u2014 is a federal law that requires the full or partial disclosure of unreleased documents and information controlled by the [\u2026]<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/publicintegrity.org\/politics\/chicagos-foia-fest-celebrates-open-government\/\">Chicago\u2019s FOIA Fest celebrates open government<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/publicintegrity.org\/\">Center for Public Integrity<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24474,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[432,1,3500],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028474"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24474"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1028474"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1044982,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028474\/revisions\/1044982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1028474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1028474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1028474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}