National Day of Civic Hacking: Boston 2017

Please join Code for Boston for a day of civic hacking at our fifth annual National Day of Civic Hacking event on Sept 23. Taking place on Saturday at the iZotope offices in Cambridge, this year’s event will feature a community-focused hackathon to kick off a new set of Code for Boston projects with our government and community partners.

We can't wait to see you all for a couple days of collaboration, problem solving, and civic hacking!

Should I come to National Day of Civic Hacking (NDoCH)?

Yes! NDoCH is for urbanists, civic hackers, government staff, developers, designers, community organizers, technologists, data scientists, engaged citizens, and anyone with the passion to make their city better. We invite you to join us as we work together to make positive change in our community!

What will we be doing at National Day of Civic Hacking?

Our goal at NDoCH is to bring together government folks, technologists, and regular citizens to start working on local problems in their communities, facilitated by open data. The Code for Boston team will be working with local government, non-profit, and community partners to help generate project ideas, but we'll also have open pitches as well.

At the event, attendees will get to pitch ideas and form teams to work on those ideas. After forming groups, teams will spend the rest of the day developing their idea together. We expect that outputs will take many forms: one team may develop a map-based data visualization, another may create a set of wireframes, and a third may come up with a business plan for a new non-profit or civic startup. After the event, we'll invite all attendees to come to our weekly Code for Boston hack nights to continue working on their projects.

We want all the good ideas you can come up with, no matter what the format!

I have an idea to work on at National Day of Civic Hacking!

Awesome! Tell us about it on this Google Form (instructions included). We'll also have an open pitch session at the event itself.

Schedule

9:30 - 10:00 - Doors open. Light breakfast will be served, courtesy of Pivotal!
10:00 - 10:15 - Welcome presentation from Code for Boston team
10:15 - 10:45 - Project pitches
10:45 - 12:00 - Open hacking
12:00 - Lunch is served, courtesy of Chipotle!
12:00 - 3:30 - Open hacking
3:30 - 4:30 - Outputs and next steps
4:30 - 5:00 - Event closing (edited)

A logistical note…

All Code for Boston events are on the record by default. Participants should be made aware that they may be quoted, photographed, videotaped and otherwise recorded. Exceptions must be agreed to by all parties present in a conversation in order for the conversation to be off the record.

Additionally, all Code for Boston events are governed by our Code of Conduct.

I have other questions, ideas, or partnership opportunities for National Day of Civic Hacking!

Awesome! Here's how we can hook up:

• If you are a government or community group and would like to submit an open-source project for work at NDoCH, tell us about it here.

• If you are interested in making a financial contribution, donating a meal, or other forms of sponsorship: Contact Harlan (hweber@codeforamerica.org) or Becky (becky@codeforboston.org)

• If you have a general question not covered here: Contact hello@codeforboston.org

Our Thanks

National Day of Civic Hacking Boston 2017 would not be possible without support from the following organizations:

About National Day of Civic Hacking

National Day of Civic Hacking is a nationwide day of action where developers, government employees, designers, journalists, data scientists, non-profit employees, UX designers, and residents who care about their communities come together to host civic tech events leveraging their skills to help their community. This annual event provides citizens an opportunity to do what is most quintessentially American: roll up our sleeves, get involved and work together to improve our society. 

Read more about National Day of Civic Hacking at Code for America

About Code for Boston

Part of the Code for America Brigade network, Code for Boston is a volunteer group of developers, designers, data geeks, and citizen activists who use creative technology to solve civic and social problems in the Greater Boston area.

Part mission-driven non-profit, part technology meetup, part advocacy group, part social club, we provide a way for citizens to give back to their communities by building civic applications, opening public data sources, and generally helping to leverage technology for use in the public sphere.

Read more about Code for Boston

A brief diclaimer from our venue partner, iZotope

By my participation at this event, held at iZotope’s offices at 60 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, I hereby waive, release and discharge iZotope, its landlord, and/or their directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives, and agents, and the activity holders, sponsors, and volunteers from any and all liability, including but not limited to, liability arising from the negligence or fault of the entities or persons released, for my death, disability, personal injury, property damage, property theft, or actions of any kind which may hereafter occur to me including my traveling to, attending and participating this activity.  I understand while participating in this activity, I may be photographed. I agree to allow my photo, video, or film likeness to be used for any legitimate purpose by the activity holders, producers, sponsors, organizers, and assigns. I am aware that this is a contract regarding release of liability and use of likeness, and I am 18 years or older, and sign it of my own free will.