Code for Atlanta Hosts first In-Person Civic Hack Night Showcase Since 2020
After a several-month hiatus to allow leadership the opportunity to focus on organizational strategy and vision, Code for Atlanta was back with a vengeance – and in-person! And we at Tech Square ATL (TSQATL) Social Club were honored that The Clubhouse was the designated choice for the group to host their first public gathering since early 2020.
On the evening of August 22, the organization hosted their kickoff Showcase: Civic Hack Night right in the heart of Tech Square. Open to both our members and the general public, the activation started with designated social time by playing bingo to encourage attendees to break the ice and get to know each other. The idea being to create a welcoming environment upon entry and to – of course – build community. Participants played and also enjoyed a catered dinner from Chipotle.
Immediately following was the main attraction – AKA the formal presentation! First up was Civic Tech 1010 with Tyrek Shepard. This topic served as an introduction to Code for Atlanta and the work that they do. They covered the definition of civic tech, the operating principles of the organization, recent community projects, and briefly touched on the Code for America Brigade community.
Next to take the stage was Shaun Mosley, who discussed #reproject-atlanta, Code for Atlanta's internal initiative to strategize before their in-person return. This included the group setting a new vision for the social-good tech work and redesigning how their organization operates and views leadership. Two upcoming projects that will begin on September 12 (at The Clubhouse) were also mentioned!
The showcase concluded with a Q&A, but the event was far from over! While attendees soaked in all the information, we also had them answer the question “What is one thing you learned tonight?” Some of our favorite responses around what they uncovered that evening included the following:
“Code for Atlanta is responsible for providing valuable solutions for real problems in the city. Moreover, I learned that I can leverage my expertise to contribute to these solutions, which is great!”
“Code for Atlanta and Code for America are using tech in a way to help the community and people for civic good.”
“Civic tech looks to benefit the community rather than ‘spit out’ a product for a consumer.
What civic tech is and the difference between it and gov tech.”
“The new process for vetting projects, which I love.”
“About several past projects for Code for Atlanta. The project that helped people with financial education and free accounts was particularly cool for me.”
“About the current projects Code for Atlanta is working on. I’m interested in seeing how the one with ‘Open Maps’ goes.”
“The potential for tech to help our government better serve.”
“That Civic Tech 101 is a real thing and there are organizations doing it around the country.”
Additional socializing and networking helped wrap up the evening, with many new community members sharing their excitement for the next event and how they look forward to starting on some projects!
Are you interested in attending future Civic Hack Nights? Let us know in the comments below.