The Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence helps cities leverage data for the public good.
Through our blended, one-stop-shop approach, we meet the needs of governments and nonprofits and help them solve the challenges they face. Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University will help public sector organizations:
- More effectively deliver services
- Build technological skills
- Fill the knowledge and skills gap left by years of dwindling public sector resources
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04/22/2026
Yesterday, GovEx welcomed chief data officers from all over the country to the in Washington for a convening of the Civic Analytics Network. City leaders shared strategies in the rapidly developing world of urban data and AI, met with Dean William Howell of Johns Hopkins new School of Government & Policy, and heard from experts including Denice Ross, Dominique Duval-Diop, and Lynn Overmann. Learn more about the Network at the link in our bio.
04/16/2026
Is your chief data officer a strategist, performance driver, foundation builder, or an analyzer?
We recently interviewed city data leaders from around the U.S. and found that there is no single way to do the job of CDO. Rather, a set of four emerging archetypes shows us how cities are defining the role and the skill sets needed to scale effective data and AI use in the public sector.
Read Data Practice Manager Kel Wang’s analysis of city data leadership and what these archetypes mean for governance, AI, and capacity building.
https://bit.ly/3OpSEbq
The Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance application is now open.
Join now and solve your city’s biggest challenges with bespoke data and AI solutions.
Learn more and apply -> Link in bio
Local government is where the rubber meets the road.
In the latest episode of the Data Points Podcast, GovEx founder Beth Blauer, now JHU’s Vice President for Impact and Initiatives, sits down with GovEx Executive Director Oliver Wise to reflect on something that’s easy to forget in today’s polarized political climate: no matter where people fall on the political spectrum, they all expect the same basic things from their city.
Trash picked up. Potholes fixed. Services that work.
It’s a simple truth but it says a lot about why local government matters so much, and why data-driven decision making is critical to delivering vital services for residents every day.
Listen to the full episode at the link in bio.
03/03/2026
Opportunities to solve city challenges with data and AI are expanding every day. But it takes visionary leadership to know where and how to apply them effectively.
Join us for a free webinar, “How to Launch an Impactful Data-Driven Project,” featuring former big-city data leaders Mike Flowers (New York City), Melisa Breda (Buenos Aires), and Joy Bonaguro (San Francisco).
Learn how experienced data leaders scope, launch, and scale impactful initiatives, and hear more about the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance.
Register at the link in bio.
Own the Data. Solve the Problem. Build Trust.
In the latest Data Points podcast episode, GovEx founder Beth Blauer, now JHU’s Vice President for Impact and Initiatives, and Executive Director Oliver Wise get to the heart of what data-driven government really means.
It’s not about launching an open data portal for its own sake. It’s about government owning its data, defining its needs, and using evidence to solve real problems.
Beth and Oliver reflect on a lesson learned over the past decade: when data programs focus on outcomes instead of optics, trust follows.
Listen to the full episode at the link in bio.
Ten Years. One Bold Bet. A Data-First Future for Government.
In the latest Data Points episode, GovEx founder Beth Blauer, now JHU’s Vice President for Impact and Initiatives, joins Executive Director Oliver Wise to reflect on the first decade of the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence and the bold belief that started it all. What began as a new idea about equipping cities with better data has grown into a national model for how local governments lead with evidence.
Beth and Oliver share the untold stories behind GovEx’s launch, the early risks and skepticism, and the lessons learned from working alongside cities around the world. They also look ahead to what matters most now, from strengthening data governance to building community trust, and why evidence-based leadership is essential to sustaining impact beyond any single administration.
Listen to the full episode and read Beth’s blog at the links in bio.
What if your city realized it’s not alone?
That’s how Matías Meric, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Luján de Cuyo, describes joining a global network of city leaders through the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance AI Track.
Different places. Same challenges.
Regardless of their zip code, residents care about their square meter, their street, their neighborhood, and their quality of life. And they expect the same level of service they receive from the private sector.
In the latest Data Points podcast episode, Matías shares why connection, not just technology, changed everything.
Listen to the full episode at the link in bio.
02/19/2026
On February 25th, leaders from the State of Guanajuato, Mexico will share with the City AI Connect community how they’re using artificial intelligence to transform government services and improve outcomes for residents.
They will present an overview of practical AI use cases being implemented across multiple departments and cities, highlighting real-world applications, lessons learned, and measurable impact.
This conversation is exclusively for members of the City AI Connect community, which is open to city staff everywhere.
Learn more and join at the link in bio.
02/19/2026
Are you a graduate student who wants to use AI to solve real problems in cities?
Applications are now open for the Data Science for Social Good Fellowship, managed by GovEx, in collaboration with the School of Government and Policy at Johns Hopkins.
For 10 weeks, you will work directly with cities, applying generative AI and machine learning to tackle real public sector challenges.
If you have strong programming, statistics, and data skills and care about impact, this is your opportunity.
Learn more and apply now until March 1 at the link in bio.