Sunshine Week is an annual celebration of open government that is embraced by journalists, non-profit organizations, citizens, and officials at every level of government. SunshineWeek.org has a full listing of the events going on around the country to celebrate the week of March 13-19, 2016, but Washington, DC, is the epicenter for Federal agencies’ celebrations. If you are in the area, we invite you to join in the fun; if you are not, many of these events are webcast.
The National Archives will host a Sunshine Week event in the William G. McGowan Theater on the afternoon of Monday, March 14 (RSVP here). Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero will kick off the event at 1 pm. Speakers, including Senator Patrick Leahy and experts from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, American University, 18F, the National Archives, MuckRock, GovTrack, New America Foundation, Demand Progress and more, will help us mark the 50th anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and discuss how technology can help open government.
The copy of the FOIA signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson will be on display during the program. If you are attending the event, please enter through the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue.
If you cannot join us for the event in person, it will also be available via live stream: be sure to check out our Sunshine Week 2016 event page to find the link.
How are other Federal agencies marking Sunshine Week?
Department of Justice (DOJ)
You can join other open government enthusiasts in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice at 10 am on Monday, March 14. DOJ will honor FOIA professionals from across the government who have made extraordinary contributions to the field. Learn about the awards and how to RSVP for the event here.
Department of Commerce
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau are hosting a Sunshine Week Kickoff Event in the Commerce Auditorium on Tuesday, March 15. Speakers include Department of Justice Office of Information Policy Director Melanie Pustay, who will discuss the 50th anniversary of the FOIA. RSVP via Eventbrite here.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
On Wednesday, March 23 from 1 – 2 pm, NRC will host a public briefing on its FOIA program. You can attend in person (Two White Flint North Auditorium; 11545 Rockville Pike; Rockville, MD) or join by phone (800-369-1849 Pass Code: 1289807). If you plan to attend the forum in person, you must RSVP to FOIA.Resource@nrc.gov by Wednesday, March 16, 2016.
Is your agency hosting a Sunshine Week event that is not listed here? Let us know about it in the comments!
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