Introducing the U.S. Digital Corps: A new path to public service for early-career technologists. September 2021

“When I was a college student, I remember searching USAJOBS for an entry-level position that combined two of my passions: technology and public service. Imagine how I felt when the only result that came back was an unpaid position installing basic software!

That experience set me on a path of creating more opportunities for students and recent graduates in public interest technology, which is why I am so excited that GSA, with the White House, Office of Personnel Management, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has launched the U.S. Digital Corps, a new two-year fellowship offering an onramp into federal service for early-career technologists.” Link

Stepping back from day-to-day responsibilities at Coding it Forward. April 2021

“Co-founding and helping lead Coding Forward while engaging with so many passionate students and young people from across the country — and around the world — has been an incredible privilege and opportunity, which why this transition is especially bittersweet…

At its roots, I have always seen Coding it Forward’s work as aspirational. Our work as an organization and a broader civic tech movement will have won a victory when using tech, data, and design skills in service of the public interest is considered the gold standard—the “dream job”—and perhaps even an expectation. But our work will not be done until there are enough opportunities inside and outside of government to meet and truly take advantage of this growing supply of mission-driven talent.

That work is not done, and I am eager to keep going. Always forward.” Link

The Digital Corps. Day One Project. December 2020

“The next administration should create a “Digital Corps”—a two-year early-career fellowship designed for the country’s top young technology talent to serve in the Federal Government. Such a program could compete for college graduates in technical fields and for other early-career technical professionals, potentially recruiting thousands per year.In an increasingly digital age, a transition accelerated by the COVID pandemic, a Digital Corps would improve government service delivery in critical areas, rebuilding trust in government, and create a broad talent funnel for the Federal Government to build the diverse, inclusive, and digital native workforce it needs in the 21st century.” Link

Closing Keynote: Your Voice Matters. Let’s Make It Count Virtual Summit 2020. November 2020

“The National Science Foundation West Big Data Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools program and a national network of data hubs, is announcing a National Census Data Challenge for high school students coinciding with the 2020 Census. The aim of the Challenge is to ensure a student’s zip code doesn’t determine their access to critical STEM skills development opportunities, increasing data literacy access to all students, particularly in hard-to-reach communities. Of the 15.3 million high-school students in the United States, less than 2% take the AP Statistics Exam each year.” Link

Building a 21st Century Congress: Improving STEM Policy Advice in the Emerging Technology Era, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, November 2020

“Many congressional personal offices and committees are already staffed by smart, public-spirited scientists and technologists, and Congress can draw on outside experts to inform its legislation and its hearings. But none of the interviewees for this report or our previous report, argued that the status quo worked as well as it should; no one thought that Congress had enough STEM expertise to effectively reckon with emerging technology issues. Everyone—from members of Congress to their staffers, from non-profit leaders to private sector professionals, from generalists to STEM professionals—thought that Congress can do better.” Link

Coding it Forward First Act Fund Winners. New America Public Interest Technology University Network 2020 Virtual Convening. November 2020

“Public interest technology is not limited to existing institutions in academia, government, and civil society. Hear from student public interest entrepreneurs supported by Coding it Forward’s First Act Fund about the innovative products, services, and organizations they’ve created to have an impact in their communities through technology.”

Bringing Everyone to the Table: A conversation about fostering a diverse and inclusive culture in civic tech, and beyond. Black Tech Unplugged, Code For America, U.S. Digital Service. September 2020

“In 2020, we’ve seen many tech organizations across the country renew their promises to bring more diverse perspectives into their workforce. Within civic tech, there is more to do to champion a culture of diversity and inclusivity—including hiring, retention, and career development—that ultimately creates better products and outcomes for those who use them.” Link

Activating Civic Innovators. MetroLab Summit. September 2020

‘We want to work ourselves out of a job’ is a phase that is commonly heard in the civic innovation space. Innovation is not static; it’s dynamic. That makes it all the more difficult to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders. In this panel, we hear from leaders at organizations that are spearheading just that: identifying and supporting innovators of the future. Having identified gaps in the civic leadership development pipeline, these organizations support tomorrow’s civic innovators by providing them with the skills, experiences, networks, and tools to face any new challenge.” Link

Student Perspectives on PIT Inspirations and Pathways. New America Public Interest Technology University Network. July 2020

“PIT-UN invites you to a conversation with students and recent graduates in the field of public interest technology (PIT). Hear more about their inspirations for pursuing PIT, the opportunities they've explored, challenges they faced, and suggestions for building the PIT movement on college campuses across the country, especially at an institutional level. Students include participants in projects funded through the 2019 Network Challenge.” Link

Building a 21st Century Congress: Improving Congress’s Science and Technology Expertise, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, September 2019

“While members of Congress in both chambers often produce thoughtful legislation on established science and technology issues, in legislation and high-profile hearings, Congress has appeared unprepared to reckon with emerging technologies and their effects on society.” Link

Rethinking Computer Science at Harvard, The Harvard Crimson, September 2019

“As my peers and I move through Harvard Yard and its surrounding buildings this week in hopes of finalizing our schedules, we will consider many factors — student feedback in the “Q guide;” the timing of midterms, papers, and other key deadlines; concentration and General Education requirements — before making our decisions. For more and more students in the Computer Science and related departments, I hope that considerations of ethical and social use of the technologies taught will also be one such consideration.” Link

The Next Generation, Code for America Summit, June 2018