New InnovateUS Fall Workshops on AI for Law Enforcement, AI for Communications Professionals, and AI for Public Engagement

By Jess Silverman

August 19, 2025

InnovateUS is launching three new workshop series to help public sector professionals navigate critical AI challenges. Each series features practical, one-hour workshops that give you the skills to use AI more effectively in your work.

AI for Law Enforcement
AI for Democratic Engagement
AI for Public Communications Professionals

AI for Law Enforcement

AI offers significant opportunities for law enforcement—from analyzing body camera footage to improve officer training and accountability, to processing vast amounts of data for crime pattern analysis, to automating routine administrative tasks. However, these same technologies carry substantial risks of algorithmic bias, particularly in predictive policing systems that may unfairly target certain communities, or facial recognition tools that have documented higher error rates for people of color. Many agencies lack the knowledge and frameworks needed to harness AI's benefits while mitigating these risks and addressing legitimate community concerns about privacy, fairness, and accountability.

Beginning September 4th….A workshop series that equips law enforcement professionals, public safety personnel, and community stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to use artificial intelligence responsibly to protect the public, reduce crime, and promote fairness.

Hosts: This series has been developed in collaboration with the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers University and the Office of the Chief AI Strategist for the State of New Jersey.

Workshop Schedule

Sept 4: AI Fundamentals for Public Safety
Sept 10: What Can AI Actually Do for Law Enforcement Today?
Sept 25: AI Policy Development
Oct 1: AI in Police Operations
Oct 6: Stakeholder Engagement in AI Implementation
Oct 27: Predictive Policing and Algorithmic Bias
Oct 29: Facial Recognition: Applications, Risks, and Limits
Nov 5: Unlocking the Power of Body-Worn Camera Data with AI

Who should attend: Law enforcement professionals, public safety personnel, community organizations, policymakers, and anyone interested in the responsible intersection of AI and public safety.

Reboot Democracy: Designing Democratic Engagement for the AI Era

There's no shortage of writing about the importance of citizen engagement, but far less practical guidance on how to actually do it well. Most public officials know they should engage with communities, but lack concrete skills for designing effective processes, choosing the right tools for different situations, or turning public input into actionable policy changes. AI technologies offer powerful new possibilities—from analyzing thousands of public comments to identify key themes, to creating multilingual engagement platforms, to facilitating virtual town halls that reach broader audiences. This series goes beyond theory to teach you the practical, hands-on skills to design, implement, and measure meaningful engagement that actually works.

Beginning September 11... A workshop series that teaches practical skills to leverage AI and digital platforms for citizen engagement that is more inclusive, responsive, and effective at turning community voices into real policy and service improvements.

Hosts: This series has been curated by Professors Danielle Allen, Harvard University, and Beth Simone Noveck, Northeastern University

Sessions

Sept 11: Why Public Engagement?
Sept 24: Different Horses for Different Courses: Matching Tools to Purpose
Sept 30: Designing Smarter Engagement with AI
Oct 10 (TBC): Defining Problems with the Public
Oct 14: Solving Problems with the Public
Oct 29: Citizen Assemblies and AI
Nov 12: Co-Creating with Multi-Lingual Communities
Nov 19: Listening to the Public with AI
Dec 4 (TBC): Deliberating with the Public
Dec 10 (TBC): Measuring Impact of AI-Enhanced Engagement

Who should attend: Public sector professionals seeking better community engagement, elected officials and staff wanting to enhance constituent participation, civic technologists, and anyone passionate about strengthening democratic participation through responsible technology.

Amplify: Mastering Public Communication in the AI Age

Government communicators face unprecedented challenges: cutting through information overload, combating disinformation, reaching diverse audiences, and maintaining public trust. AI tools offer powerful new capabilities for public communication—from drafting accessible content in multiple languages, to analyzing public sentiment on social media, to creating data visualizations that make complex policy information understandable. However, these same tools risk creating generic messaging, spreading misinformation if used carelessly, or undermining authentic human connection. Many communication professionals lack the knowledge to use AI effectively and ethically in government settings.

Beginning October 7… A comprehensive workshop series for communication professionals who shape public messages at all levels of government. Learn how AI tools—when used responsibly and transparently—can strengthen communication, broaden outreach, and counter disinformation while maintaining the core mission to inform, connect, and serve.

Hosts: Former New York Times Executive Editor and Northeastern Journalism Professor Jill Abramson, Northeastern Professor John Wihbey, and Henry Griggs serve as lead coaches, bringing deep expertise in journalism, public messaging, and strategic communication.

Workshop Topics

October 7: Welcome to Amplify — Strategy, Skills, and The Stakes of Public Communication Today
October 13: AI-Assisted Writing — Lessons from the Field
TBC: AI 101 for Communicators — What You Need to Know
TBC: Ethical Use of AI in Government Messaging
TBC: Writing for Impact — Turning Policy into Plain Language
TBC: Strategic Storytelling in the Public Sector
TBC: Navigating Crisis Communications with Confidence
TBC: Communicating with Visuals — Infographics, Images, and Video
TBC: Communicating Across Communities — Language Access, Inclusion, and Equity
TBC: Thinking like a Reporter — What Makes News
TBC: Inside the Newsroom — Framing, Timelines, and the Editorial Process
TBC: Managing Media Relationships and Missteps
TBC: Social Media and the Influencer Ecosystem
TBC: Combating Disinformation and Rebuilding Institutional Trust

Who Should Attend: Government communication professionals, public information officers, press secretaries, content creators, and anyone responsible for public messaging at federal, state, or local levels.

About InnovateUS Workshops

All InnovateUS workshops are designed by and for public professionals, offering no-cost, practical, one-hour learning opportunities. Participants can attend individual workshops or complete a full series. A series is a multi-session workshop collection focused on a specific topic, allowing for deeper skill-building and comprehensive understanding. While you can attend as many or as few as you wish, we recommend that you participate in the whole series.

Our extensive library of recorded AI-focused sessions is available to participants, and all attendees receive a certificate of completion.

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Questions? Email us at [email protected]