Civic technologists: Apply to speak at the 2019 Code for America Summit

Code for America, the national federation of local civic tech brigades, is hosting its annual summit May 29 t0 31 in a three-day push to shine a light on the intersection of government and technology.

The event, happening in Oakland, plans to gather some 1,300 civic tech enthusiasts. And for those looking to elevate their profile in civic tech, the organization has launched an open call for speakers.

The organization said that proposed sessions must address four key problems: digital service delivery with users at the center, making sense of disruptive technology, focusing on delivery with policy and technology at the table, and shaping the technology landscape for better outcomes for everyone.

For context, the summit is split into three tracks: Digital Delivery (the process, practices and tools required to deliver digital services that meet user needs), Civic Innovation (improving and making use of new ways of engaging with and meeting the expectations of citizens) and GovOps (how to transform the processes, people and culture working in and around government).

Code for America’s ties to Philly run deep. In 2011, the city was home to one of the first cohorts of city government fellows, and in turn those fellows launched of the city’s first modern civic hackathons. In addition to its annual summit, Code for America also organizes a brigade congress which it launched in Philadelphia in 2017.

In 2018, local technologists Chris Alfano and Dawn McDougall were both elected to Code for America’s National Advisory Council — a brain trust of sorts which guides the work done by the network of brigades.

The deadline to apply to session submissions is Jan. 11.