How to Level Up Your Event - Code for America Brigade Training
Download as PPTX, PDF1 like1,095 views
This document provides tips for organizing successful civic hacking events like hackathons and hack nights. It emphasizes that the primary goals of these events should be community building rather than finished projects. Consistency in scheduling, clear explanations of the work, and leaving time for breakout groups and discussions are important for helping newcomers feel comfortable engaging with the community. Organizers should have a plan for how projects will continue after the event and promote the event through various channels.
How to Level Up Your Event - Code for America Brigade Training
- 1. How to Level Up Your Events CHRISTOPHER WHITAKER MIDWEST REGIONAL COORDINATOR CODE FOR AMERICA @CIVICWHITAKER #CFASUMMIT
- 2. First, why are you having an event? • Trying to build out a fully finished, fully functional app in one weekend? • Trying to recruit people into your startup? • Trying to get some free work for a specific app? • Trying to get people to use your product (instead of somebody else’s?)
- 3. Then…a civic hacking event is *not* for you Civic Hackathons and Hack Nights are tools for *community building* Building apps take time and effort that doesn’t always fit into a single weekend Hackathons & Hack Nights build community by: Allowing space to talk about issues Educating your community about a certain skill or topic Providing a safe learning space to recruit people into your community
- 4. Not to say you can’t build stuff at Hack Night Hack Nights and Hackathons are great for: Prototypes and brainstorming Working on projects bit by bit each week Getting help with your projects
- 5. Set up the game plan for winning For Hackathons: Start with the problem Have the problem owners start off the day Provide resources Recruit Recruit Recruit Have run-throughs beforehand Communicate Communicate Communicate Have a game plan for post-hackathon What happens to the project ideas? Whose telling what happened? How to you measure success?
- 6. For hack nights, CONSISTENCY is your friend! Consistency! • Same time / day of week • Same venue • Same agenda • Same time commitment Why? So that if I miss one week, I can always come next time – and I always know what to expect.
- 7. Introductions are awesome Who are you? What do you do? What are you working on? OH! I totally have to meet that person!
- 8. It’s not magic! Hack nights should demystify the work that we do – both on the government side and the technology side. Make a habit of explaining the tech things – even if you’re *pretty sure* that people know what you’re talking about.
- 9. ASK QUESTIONS • This is not easy stuff • If you think people are confused, ask the question even if you’re the organizer and already know • If the organizers ask questions – it sends a signal that its okay to ask questions.
- 10. LEAVE TIME FOR BREAKOUTS! (That’s where all the fun happens) Have a Civic Hacking 101 for new visitors Have breakouts for areas that interest people Make it flexible – be able to add breakouts at will
- 11. Finally, talk about your hack night • Social Media • Live Stream • Blog • Smack Talk with Chicago and Boston • It helps draw people to your event • (And smack talk is fun)