What is Open Everything?

Open Everything is a global conversation about the art, science and spirit of 'open'.  It gathers people using openness to create and improve software, education, media, philanthropy, architecture, workplaces and the society we live in: everything. It's about thinking, doing, and being open.

Open Everything: Ann Arbor is a one-night 'unconference' bringing together people interested or involved in applying the principles of openness, transparency, and collaboration to the businesses, organizations, and networks we are a part of. It's far more than a discussion around technology and software; it's a conversation about the community in which we want to live and the ways in which we want to get there.  

Come. Be a part of this discussion. Share your thoughts on how you are making or want to make Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Detroit, or any other community you're a part of a better place to be because of the value you and others place on sharing, transparency, access to information and resources, and collaboration. We look forward to seeing you there as we chart the trajectory of 'open' here in Ann Arbor and beyond.

For more information about the global Open Everything event and how Open Everything has unfolded (and will unfold) in cities around the world, visit the Open Everything wiki.

Event Details:

  date: Friday, October 30th, 2009

  time: 5:30pm - 9:00pm (registration and casual conversation begins at 4:30pm)

  location: U-M East Hall - 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI. (3rd floor terrace of Psychology Dept.)

  refreshments: Light refreshments and cold drinks available throughout the evening from Tranche de Vie.  

Event Format: 

After registration, members of the Open.Michigan Initiative, The University of Michigan Library, The University of Michigan Copyright Office, and Creative Commons, will welcome you to the evening. After this brief introduction the event will follow a BarCamp style where participants self-organize around topics they propose.

Event Topics:

Individuals from a spectrum of community initiatives, including technology, entrepreneurship, local food, education, etc will propose topics on anything from Open Government and Open Educational Resources to Open Spaces, Open Licensing, and Open Source Software.  We will update this topic listing as people share what they're interested in discussing. If you have a proposal you want to share, contact us using the form in the right navigation.

A Tentative Schedule:

4:30pm - 5:30pm - Event Registration and Topic Proposal in 3rd floor Terrace of East Hall

5:30pm - 5:45pm - Welcome and Introduction

5:45pm - 6:00pm - Additional Topic Proposals

6:00pm - 6:30pm - First Session - multiple breakouts based on topics

6:40pm - 7:10pm - Second Session - multiple breakouts based on topics

7:20pm - 7:50pm - Third Session - multiple breakouts based on topics

8:00pm - 8:30pm - Fourth Session - multiple breakouts based on topics

8:30pm - 9:00pm - Thanks, wrapping up, and move the discussion to a nearby bar.

Other Logistics:

  parking: Parking is available on Church Street as well as on nearby cross streets. There is also ramp parking in the Forest Street Parking Structure at Forest and Willard. There are also plenty of places to lock a bike and also a variety of AATA and Campus Blue buses that will get you near.

  people: We want to see as diverse a crowd as possible sharing as many diverse perspectives on the theme as possible. So, tell as many people as possible about the event - especially those people in your social and professional circles. 

  hosting: This event is hosted by the Open.Michigan Initiative, a project in the University of Michigan Medical School's Office of Enabling Technologies.

  costumes: Feel free to test out your Saturday night Halloween costume at the event.