Workshop Agenda

Our agenda (below) accordingly centers the experiences and opportunities we've heard across states. But we're also confident there's more to learn together, and are eager to factor in what we've missed. So, as you look over the day's sessions, consider what you might contribute given your organization's vantage point, priorities, or consistent challenges—including where we might shift or refine our focus for a partnership like TAP50. Our hope is that this convening serves as an inflection point; one that captures clarity and momentum around what we can build with and for states in the next two years.

Main Meeting Room, 9th Floor | Check-in to get your name tag at the registration table, eat something, and settle in.

We'll briefly introduce EPIC/New America's partnership, give an overview of who’s here, and what to expect during the day.

Main Meeting Room | A brief participatory exercise to help attendees shape their own experience during the day—and also make new, hopefully meaningful, connections.

Main Meeting Room | We'll do a brief recap of the last decade(ish) of pioneering water data work, the TAP model developed by Duke University and Internet of Water Coalition, and the TAP50 partnership concept. We also want to prime attendees, especially states, to think about concrete gaps and “use cases” they see on the horizon that better, FAIR water data can help close. Followed by a lightning talk from beloved thought partner and state innovator Stacy.

Main Meeting Room | This keynote panel will discuss key learnings and insights related to TAP50 from a group of senior water and civic technology leaders, followed by a dialogue with our audience. They'll help the group level-set and articulate why water data is such a compelling, actionable issue. They'll also help attendees expand our thinking about what a group like this can achieve together, ahead of our first break out sessions.

Break 10:55 AM – 11:10 AM

Main Meeting & Independence Rooms | Facilitated by EPIC/New America team, morning break-out groups will focus on defining where states need the most support when it comes to water data—and what the TAP50 program might offer across priority partnership areas, e.g. -

1. State-level water data workshops or accelerators 

2. Follow-on technical assistance (TA) in response to known and emergent state needs (e.g., sustainable funding, data center development, policy design, SRFs, resilience investments)

3. Learning and collaboration across states (the TAP50 network)

4. Capacity and coalition-building (across sectors, agencies, and/or regions) 

Main Meeting Room | State participants from each break-out group will share key themes, questions, and insights with the broader group. Lunch to be served during or prior to this session.

Lunch provided outside Main Event Space 12:35 – 1:10 PM

Main Meeting Room | Panelists will discuss shifts across the funding landscape, the salience of storytelling and coalition-building in work like this (beneficairies of the data!), and how attendees and states alike—under the auspices of TAP50—can build momentum and needed investment.

Break 2:00 – 2:10 PM

Main Meeting & Independence Rooms | Facilitated by EPIC/New America team members, afternoon break-out groups will begin with a short, written brainstorming exercise where individuals focus on a set of questions built around mobilizing support in the near-term. Then—building on that worksheet, the morning's discussions, and earlier break-outs—group members will discuss and refine their ideas for collective action.*

*Remaining ~ 25 minutes will include brief read-outs from each group

Break 3:30 – 3:40 PM

Main Meeting Room | TAP50 thought partners and EPIC / New America leaders will share out their observations and key take-aways from the day, followed by a brief “open mic” session for participants to do the same.

Main Meeting Room | Folks from EPIC and New America teams will bring the day to a close and thank attendees as we look ahead to follow-ups and next steps in the months ahead.