Where the Charles Meets the Potomac: Reflections on DPI-663

Effective governance requires more than writing great policy; to make the positive impacts of that policy a reality, it requires effective implementation.

Harvard Kennedy School students have the opportunity to learn from some of the most accomplished individuals at the art of implementing public policy. This is particularly true of DPI-663, Tech and Innovation in Government, led by the unflappable Nick Sinai. Student teams have had the unique ability to learn directly from Matt Cutts, Mina Hsiang, Charles Worthington, Erie Meyer, Rajive Mathur, Colonel (ret.) Enrique Oti, and many others — role models representing the best traditions of public service.

Every spring for the past several years, I’ve had the privilege to speak with Nick’s class, which partners students with Federal, state and local government agencies to work on real world problems. Each semester, the resulting Demo Day reflects a unique combination of classroom instruction, mentorship from experienced public servants, and invaluable interactions with the people who rely upon the underlying programs and services. As is often the case when one engages with the civic tech community, every stakeholder emerges better for the experience.

Given the topic, I can’t resist the opportunity to share a few additional reflections that I’ve drawn from various experiences with the civic tech community:

1. Be long on humility and short on hubris. Humility does not equate a lack of confidence, in fact it is a reflection of it.
2. Listen. Todd Park, who incidentally has a solid case to be named the G.O.A.T. of public servants, is a relentlessly optimistic and active listener. Be like Todd.
3. Passionately advocate for the ideas that you believe in — that’s a feature, not a bug, of a well-functioning democracy.
4. Treat people with respect, deal honestly and earn trust — especially with those whom you disagree. Ultimately, you will be able to achieve more and have a lasting impact that you can be proud of. It’s also simply the right thing to do.
5. The Unfinished Work. Those words spoken by President Lincoln in Pennsylvania are justly engraved in stone at the Memorial which honors his legacy. A timeless reminder that, while one can achieve great milestones of progress, in a democracy there is always more work to do.

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had so many arguments that two centuries after their lives, there was a hit musical featuring their disagreements. Yet, in critical moments, they worked together to make our system of government work — while they were far from perfect, they each left a better world than they found.

Working together, because — and not despite — of our differences is the ultimate American tradition. This diversity of opinion, perspective, and thought is the very foundation to our society’s ever-improving nature.

Reflecting the civic tech community as a whole, DPI-663’s ultimate lesson is the optimistic belief that people of good will, working together, can leverage technology to improve people’s lives and build a better world.