Taylor McGinnis is a software engineer, GIS analyst, and educator who works to expand access to datasets and to connect organizations with the data they need to further their goals. She is passionate about building user-friendly and interactive online resources that provide the public with information that is often only available to private institutions. While Taylor is excited about information-sharing technology, she is more interested in what this technology can accomplish for the people it’s meant to serve. She is consistently involved in user research processes and works closely with her audience to make sure her approach to data and technology is in line with the audience’s needs.
She recently worked with Pratt Center to build out a data education curriculum and host trainings for community-based organizations on how to best collect, analyze, and incorporate data into their daily efforts. Before that, she spent three years working as a software engineer at NYC Planning Labs. While at Planning Labs, she helped to design, build, and maintain online applications focused on city planning issues, including NYC’s Zoning and Land Use Map (Zola), NYC Population Factfinder, Community District Profiles, and the Zoning Application Portal (ZAP) Search.